Maxwell Osarenkhoe / Oxfam
Impact stories
Ogbogne Women of Nasarawa: From farming to leadership
Sarah is an entrepreneur from the state of Nasarawa, Nigeria and a true Ogbonge woman. Resilient, resourceful and firmly rooted in her community.
Forging a path forwards
Sarah married young and faced hardship early. As she says in the video below, she was often worrying about how her family would survive. Thankfully, over time, she built strong skills in farming yams, maize, and rice (among other crops), drawing on local knowledge but also her own determination. Despite her best efforts, farming costs kept rising and crops yields were low.
Turning savings into an opportunity
Sarah’s journey took a new direction when she joined a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) through her engagement with Oxfam and the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture.
Maxwell Osarenkhoe / Oxfam
How Village Savings Loan Association (VSLA) works in Nigeria
Through the VSLA, she was able to access small loans and learned how to manage money in a commercial setting. She was part of a local community-led saving group who worked together to invest in better farming practices, store grain and bulk buy vital farming goods such as high-quality seeds and fertiliser to increase yields significantly.
Beyond farming: moving into business and housing
Sarah didn’t stop with farming. From the success of her venture, she opened her own shop, creating another income stream supported by her family. Through a partnership between Oxfam and the Nigerian government, she gained access to the technology needed to make this possible. She also diversified into grain storage and livestock.
Noticing a nearby university and a shortage of affordable student housing, Sarah invested her savings into purchasing some land and building two lodges with multiple flats. She has a third planned to be built soon.
Maxwell Osarenkhoe / Oxfam
Sarah, an entrepreneur on her farm in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. Credit: Maxwell Osarenkhoe / Oxfam
Empowering local women
After returning from Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, Sarah was able to share her newly acquired knowledge of group leadership with other women in the local area. "I told them about the contributory savings [VLSA] and many of the women agreed with it," she explains.
Sarah helped to establish many groups in her town and the neighbouring communities. Today, several VSLA groups are thriving, supporting women to help save, invest and grow more resilient.
Regular donations allow Oxfam to help its partners provide broader, long-term support through training and capacity building.
Examples like Sarah’s are powerful because her determination is sustained by regular support, which enables community-led solutions to flourish and grow.