SBE 2024 Beneficiary “ Frugal Empowerment Foundation
New Nyanya, Appama Village, Abuja
In Appama village, nestled within the bustling area of New Nyanya, Abuja, Cecilia Unaeze pushes through each day with quiet determination. As a charcoal seller, her trade is both physically demanding and vital”providing the main source of income for her and her family. Every sack she sells helps put food on the table and keeps her children in school. But like many small-scale traders, Cecilia grapples with the rising cost of goods, unstable market demand, and the ongoing challenge of supporting her household on limited profit margins.
In 2024, Cecilia was selected as one of the recipients of the Frugal Empowerment Foundation’s Small Business Empowerment (SBE) Project. With the financial assistance she received, she was able to purchase additional bags of charcoal, increasing her supply and attracting more regular customers. This helped her improve her daily earnings and brought a renewed sense of hope.
I really appreciate what FEF did for me, Cecilia says. The support helped my business grow a little, but things are still hard. I still need more help to really stand on my feet.
Cecilia’s experience highlights the reality for many women entrepreneurs across Nigeria hardworking, determined, and resourceful, yet held back by a lack of consistent support. The SBE grant offered her a start, but long-term stability requires ongoing empowerment.
Her journey is a reminder that with a little more support, women like Cecilia can build stronger businesses and better futures. Let’s turn these small steps into lasting progress ”together.
