Blessing is a petty trader
Profile: Blessing John Akpobi
In the vibrant but challenging community of Baby village, Mpape, a bustling suburb on the outskirts of Abuja, Blessing John Akpobi wakes each day before sunrise to prepare for another day of petty trading. A mother, Blessing sells household essentials and food items from street to street in the heart of the city—her only means of survival and source of hope for her family’s future.
Through the Frugal Empowerment Foundation (FEF) and its 2024 Small Business Empowerment (SBE) Project, Blessing received a modest grant and support to boost her trading business. “It came just when I thought all hope was lost,” she says. “I used it to restock some goods, and it helped me stay afloat for a while.” But in a struggling economy and with growing responsibilities, Blessing’s needs far exceed the small capital received.
Her story is a stark reminder that while the SBE Project is transforming lives, many women like Blessing need more—more support, more capital, more mentoring—to truly rise above poverty. The help so far is a lifeline, but for Blessing, it’s just a drop in the vast ocean of her daily struggle to survive and provide.
FEF is calling on individuals, organizations, and compassionate partners to step in and help scale the impact. With your support, we can help Blessing stabilize her business, provide better for her children, and become financially independent. Together, we can rewrite her story—and that of hundreds of other women like her.
Partner with us. Support the SBE (Empower Her) Project. Donate to the SBE Project for Blessing today.