A total of 20 women drawn from different villages in Assa, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have received interest-free loans from a non-profit organisation, Spaces for Change, to improve their businesses.
The Executive Director of Spaces For Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, disclosed this at the launch of the WomenPowa Empowerment programme for environmentally impacted communities in Imo State to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day.
Represented by the legal representative of S4C, Chetachi Udeh, Ibezim-Ohaeri said Assa was the first community in Imo State to benefit from the project, adding that the community is known for farming and trading.
She said women in resource-rich but environmentally impacted communities like Assa had for too long borne the brunt of economic marginalization, environmental degradation, and limited access to financial resources.
According to her, WomenPowa was designed to reinforce the resilience of such women through the provision of direct financial support to women entrepreneurs to enable them to grow their businesses, achieve financial independence, and contribute to their communities’ economic growth.
She said, “Through this programme, 20 women entrepreneurs will receive zero-interest revolving loans of N50,000 each, allowing them to expand their small businesses. After four months, another group of women will benefit, ensuring that financial empowerment continues in a sustainable cycle. What we are launching today is not just a financial initiative; it is a movement toward a future where women have the means and opportunities to break free from economic exclusion.
“To the women beneficiaries, this programme is not just about financial assistance, it is about trust, opportunity, and empowerment. You are the change-makers, the wealth-builders, the community transformers. Use this opportunity wisely. Grow your business. Support other women when it is their turn. Let this initiative be the seed of greater economic independence, generational wealth, and sustained development,” she said.
Udeh disclosed that the project is running in Lagos State to support women from environmentally impacted communities.
The traditional ruler of Assa, Eze Emmanuel Asso, who was in attendance with his wife and entire cabinet, commended S4C for the initiative and called on the women to retain the trust reposed in them, noting that as they repay, other women will benefit from the loan scheme.
The wife of the traditional ruler, Ugoeze Juliana Asso, expressed gratitude to Spaces for Change for choosing Assa for the pilot scheme even as she admonished the beneficiaries not to default so other women can benefit from the scheme to improve their businesses.
She called on the women to aspire to higher positions even as she congratulated them on the international women’s day
Mrs Janet Williams, who came from Lagos, said the WomenPowa Initiative was already running in her community and had helped several women grow their business with interest-free loans.
She charged them to save N500 daily, noting that in four months, they would have saved N60,000 and would be able to comfortably repay the loan so other women could benefit.
Representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Chinenye Akah, disclosed that they were always ready to assist women whose rights were violated.
Mr Elechi Okoh of Cara foundation, a non-governmental organisation, declared his group’s readiness to teach the women modern farming skills to get increased yields and profit.
On her part, Ms Blessing Agbakuru, a physically challenged lady, enjoined the women to support their children to acquire education, saying that though she had physical disabilities, she is a registered medical laboratory scientist living her dream.
