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IIMGC Press Release
IIMGC MICRO-CREDIT EMPOWEREMENT PROGRAM
Mustapha A.Tsoho
Project Coordinator June 2015
IIMGC began the Initiative for the Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs, farmers and traders Project (IEEWEFTP). The goal of the project was to increase women income and participation in economy and inclusion of women voices in Nigeria. IIMGC defends human rights and has implemented various programs that have led to the health improvement and poverty reduction of several women and the underprivileged members of the society. These included the elderly, the disabled, youths, widows, unemployed and other marginalized members of the community.
IIMGC micro-credit loan was initiated to help underprivileged women improve their livelihood.
The minimum amount the bank could offer was N50, 000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) and the maximum of N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) with a repayment period of 6 months. Two types of account were opened to all interested members who has business that need fund for expansion individual and group account. The group account signatory shall be the Chairman, Secretary and treasurer.
An IIMGC group account was opened and about 10 people were disbursed about of N2, 500, 000 (Two Million Five Hundred Naira) already after the bank officials, in conjunction with IIMGC officers, conducted their due diligence. Some of the beneficiaries are:
Name Amount
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Mrs Chinasa Oko Ihere N200,000
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Mr Amos Ahiaba N300,000
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Blessing Aburime N150,000
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Caroline Mgbenkemdi N150,000
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Chioma Nwaokoro N150,000
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Star Nwazurike N120,000
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Chika Collins N150,000
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Isaia Edibo N150,000
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Emmanuel Anorue N200,000
The beneficiaries are classified into market women, petty traders and farmers groups. The disbursement to the first group have started paying back according to the structured process as well as the weekly repayments from the beneficiaries from each group which has commenced in earnest. Due to the stringent assessment of risks and challenges IIMGC advised on the options of paying back into various outlets from different places making transactions easier to monitor and manage. A visible Considerably visible and substantial financial growth as well as boost of confidence amongst the beneficiaries as they inch more towards financial independence and inclusion away from abject poverty, deprivation, abuse, low self-esteem.
WATER SANITATION/HYGIENE(WASH)
Sylva Clinton September 25th, 2015
Presently in Nigeria, statistics on access to water and sanitation are conflicting, due to divergent definitions, indicators and methodologies applied by different agencies in the Water sector. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently said 3.4 million people die annually as a result of water borne diseases associated with inadequate provision of drinking water and sanitation. Most of these people live in Asia and Africa. Statistics have it that about 130,000 Nigerian children die within the same period because of water related infections. Diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and hepatitis A, are all caused by ingestion of causative water inhabiting pathogens. Guinea worm, Schistosomiasis and a host of other parasitic nematodes likewise find their way into the human body through drinking or bathing with contaminated water. We believe that since the causative factors of these diseases and their habitats are known. IIMGC has in coalition with other CBO’s and NGO’s joined effort to eradicate this menace in the society.
Sadly Nigeria is still battling with water borne diseases, at a National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) briefing (2003-2007), the country recognised that good health is unobtainable, unless the environments in which the people live are healthy. And to this end, the National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy under NEEDS, accepted that water supply and sanitation are central to improvements in so many aspects of human, health, education, urban and rural development. Presently in Nigeria, statistics on access to water and sanitation are conflicting, due to divergent definitions, indicators and methodologies applied by different agencies in the Water sector.
The World Health Organisation and UNICEF report for 2012 ranked Nigeria third behind China and India as countries with the largest population without adequate water supply and sanitation coverage.
IIMGC is striving to educate people more on the far reaching consequences of waterborne diseases especially in terms of the huge financial implication of treating these diseases and the number of lost man hours and even possible death when a person is afflicted with any of them. There is also a need to merge the pre- colonial traditional sanitation system whereby family heads monitored sanitation with the western standards of sanitation. This will ensure that everybody is responsible for a clean environment to facilitate proper waste disposal, prevent contaminants and faecal waste being washed into the gutters, canals and rivers thereby finding their way to sources of drinking and bathing water.
Certainly, there is a need for clearly defined responsibility for sanitation, better monitoring and greater commitment on the part of all tiers to ensure that goals set are met. We want to also remind all stakeholders to join the effort of IIMGC Project for Water Sanitation and Hygiene (IPWASH) commitments for rural community primary schools, secondary schools, health centres and households.
Districts water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion project aims to improve the health situation of 69,258people of the poor rural people in each state. The communities in these districts are currently suffering from chronic health problems due to lack of access to clean and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene education that in turn resulted in poor economic status. The project will address these key needs which form the basis of all development through participatory, inclusive and effective means to bring about the following life changing project purposes:
• We envisage the safe water supply coverage of the districts will be increased by 21.6%, 15.6% and 1.44% in remote districts respectively,
• Elapsed time to fetch water for rural women and girls will be reduced from 3- 4 hours to 30 minutes after project implementation,
• The project district population with access to and use of sanitation facilities will be increased by 6.4%, 5.3% and 0.83% in remote districts respectively,
Moreover, the implementation of this project will also contribute in achieving the millennium sustainable goals (specifically to Ensure Environmental Sustainability, Reduce Child mortality, Achieve Universal / Primary education and Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger) of the nation.
Micro-credit for Women Small-Scale Farmer & Petty-traders (MCWSSFPT)
Victoria Ifeoma Okoro, October 2015
Our Milestones, Measures of Success and Long-Term Funding Plan, if any:
Progress will be measured based on target community's achievement of better economic status. The target population will have a positive growth oriented economic status. While giving micro loans to beneficiaries, we will capture basic information like their income status, poverty status and assets available with them.
Activities:
Agriculture:
The vast majority of rural poor are landless labourers or marginal farmers who survive through subsistence agriculture/petty trade. Majority of small-scale local Nigeria farmers depends on seasonal farming to survive on rain-fed/ seasonal agriculture. They usually have only about 200 days of work per year, depending on the rainfall. Thus irrigational farming is an unlikely option since they lack financial strength. Which is why IIMGC is planning on introducing the most needed facilities and technical knowhow for the underserved populations in various communities over a period of time.
Farming/Livestock rearing:
Activities with the farming households under our program. These farmers are engaged in sustainable livelihood such as milk production (cows), goat & sheep rearing, poultry activities, vegetable farming, crop farming and fish farming.
Purchase/collection & selling:
In local communities they collect and sell minor fruits, leaves, dry-wood, waste collection- plastic, paper, metal, glass. They engage in recycling, dung, farm-waste collection, preparation of compost, collection of grass, green manure and dry fodder. They sell to dairy farms and sell milk to small producers in towns
Production activities:
Those who are engaged in metal works and household items such as tables, chairs, pottery, craft work, mud brick making, candle making, cloth weaving, colouring, etc. Are encouraged to join our entrepreneurial training exercise to enable them access our micro-credit loans harness skills, exposure and business management.
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Services:
People who are engaged in road-side painting, house colouring, tailoring, and shops such as fruit juice, tea/snacks/meals hotel, photocopy shops, laundry, driving, tent house, sound and music shop, electrical shop, TV/Radio repairing shop, carpentry, black smith, flour grinder, watch repair shop, local cassava processor are encouraged to participate in the program for more exposure, sustainability and growth.
Petty Trading:
The abject poverty in remote areas is so severe that it has resulted in many migrating in search for food. Sadly women bear the brunt the most, as can be seen even in the streets of the urban areas, which so many women fall victim of trafficking, prostitution, abuse etc. Although some end up into petty trading. These small-scale petty traders represent perhaps the fastest growing segment of the labour market in Africa, attracting the unemployed, the displaced, and the impoverished. The sheer volume of petty traders in towns defies attempts at estimating their population, since they greatly outnumber wage workers as well as ‘officially’ licensed traders, many are themselves farmers who sell their surplus after feeding their family. Yet their challenges are multiple because the number of households headed by women has sharply increased. Women are often the sole support of families that may include six to eight children and several adults.
This is why IIMGC enacted a plan and assessment program for small scale farmers and Petty traders thus by rescuing them through micro-credit assistant and entrepreneurial training to enable them sustain and grow their businesses.
EMPOWERMENT TRAINING AID FOR WOMEN (ETRAW)
Akunnaya Ezeuchegbu, Women Group Leader,September 2015
The aim is to facilitate and to allow actual and potential vulnerable women to find viable alternative options to make a decent living. IIMGC offer programs that creates opportunities for individual growth and empowerment through micro-lending and entrepreneurial program. Local women are trained to be better equipped and energized to make a difference in their respective communities. IIMGC has successfully trained women, young girls and youths on empowerment entrepreneurial training. The program seeks to empower participants by developing their leadership potential and improve their livelihood.
Program Objectives
Ability to work in group
Overcome vulnerability
Income generating purposes
Leadership and inclusion
Awareness:
Without women participating in the decision making process we suffer the loss of their input and half of Humanity is being left out.
Understanding:
Women's participation in important decision making is both valuable and transforming.
Leadership skills:
Participants will identify and develop their unique leadership characteristics.
Empowerment:
The Program allows women to take a step forward in their personal and professional growth, acquiring a transformative vision of their role, deepening their knowledge on female leadership and empowerment.
More than one-third of Africa's population lacks access to safe drinking water. Dirty water kills more children than war, malaria, HIV/AIDS. Initiative for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWASHP) Project for underserved communities in Nigeria. An ongoin project .
IIMGC has all hands on deck at engaging/sensitising all stakeholders on multi-faceted approach on issues of clean portable water to remote underserved areas as well as addressing the issues of environmental (ecosystem) water related health challenges and economic challenges.
IIMGC has acquired significant experience developing appropriate methodologies for implementing Micro Credit Loans (MCL). First of all, the group-based lending and savings methodology will be sustainable at the group level.
The United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP has decried the high level of food wastage going on globally, saying it now amounts to a trillion dollar every year.
In connection with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day: ‘Think, Eat, Save, Reduce your Foodprints,’ it says “each year an estimated one third of all food produced ends up spoiling in the bins of consumers, retailers, farmers and transporters. Together, these spoilt food total 1.3 billion tonnes and worth an estimated $1 trillion every year.”
“This amount of food can feed several millions of people who presently go to bed hungry every day,” the statement added.
GLOBAL FOOD WASTAGE HITS $1.3 BILLION DOLLAR.
