YAGEPRENEUR EVAH SHARES STORY OF HOW YAGEP RAISED HER FROM GRASS TO GRACE

EVAH HELEN hails from Obiaruku in UkwuaniLGA. She has a BSC in Aquaculture and Fishery and is the CEO of BEGEP Aquaculture in Asaba. Helen is a beneficiary of the 2018/2019 Cycle of the Delta StateYouth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme(YAGEP). She shares her success story of how YAGEP moved her out of stagnation, and raised her from grass to grace.

“My life has changed for good after being jobless for 8 years after graduation. I was struggling to survive without a job and at the same time struggling to cater for my children. Life was not easy with me then. I depended fully on my husband for survival.”

“I was watching Smart Delta Programme one day on DBS, when I saw how our Governor, Dr. IfeanyiOkowa was empowering youths through the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, so I decided to visit the office”.

“I collected the form free of charge, I filled and submitted and was very lucky to be among those that were selected, trained and empowered. That was how my life turned around for good. I am now addressed as CEO of BEGEP”.

“I was empowered with 2000 fingerlings and 150 bags of fish feeds and a monthly stipend of fifteen thousand naira for nine months. I finished that particular cycle after six months, sold and restocked. I diversifiedimmediately into poultry. At present, I have about 16, 000 fish in my ponds with additional 4 ponds where I stocked 4,000 fish. So, I sell my fish every month. I process and package almost half of my fish. I now export dry fish and also waybill them to different states in Nigeria”.

“As for poultry, I stocked 150 broilers and rear them for 8 weeks to weigh 2-3kg per chicken which I sell for 3000 to 3500 naira. I put my business first before any other thing because I don’t want to lose focus. I am now financially independent and I can now take care of my bills with ease. I now support my husband in the family upkeep; we now eat well. I have two employeeswho assist me to take care of my farm”.

“I want to personally thank Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for this great opportunity that moved me from grass to grace.God will continue to shower his blessings upon him. He will never lack in the mighty name of Jesus. God bless Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and God bless Delta State.”

 

By Promise Ogana.