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Enemi Michael, 26, has a bag full of sad tales. She got married" at 20, with no skill or education; she raised 3000 naira (8 USD), bought a handful of groundnut, gather used wine bottles and began her business. It was a difficult choice to sit and do nothing because her husband's farm was razed down by the herdsmen who invaded his farm. After the herdsmen attack on her husband's farm, he became the breadwinner.
When she got pregnant, she could not do much "It was a difficult pregnancy. I was between life and death, at that period we only eat from the farm, we had no money tor anything" she retorts. And when it was time for delivery, she borrowed everything from pads to tie baby clothing. She couldn't even afford the hospital bill of 7,000 (19tJSD).
She had to pay the doctor on an installment for 6 months after delivery. "I just heard about ActionAid few months ago from my friend, when she told me some of the things they taught her, I became curious and wanted to know more" she said.
When told of the Cassava Milling Machine, she switched business. She now buys cassava in bulk, process it and makes it into its finished cassava flakes (Garri). "It is better than what I use to do before, if I get about 30,000 naira (82USD) to invest, I will be assured that I and my family will no longer suffer" she said.
Samuel Amana, 30; is an expectant father. He is excited about the prospect of fatherhood. As a subsistence farmer, he has enough food just for himself and his young wife but not enough money to care for other need of the expected child. "As for me I can manage to eat from the farm and sell some produce, but when you are expecting a baby you need money for many things" he quips.
Amana no longer need to worry for extra cash to care for the expected child, he was one of the young persons employed at the Okpakpata Rice Mill, there he earns to augment his income and save for his family.