Womens Economic Rights> 'S MR EHIGIAMUSOE'S RESPONSE TO MR UWUILEKHUE'S COMMENT

[jjowa@xxxxxxxxxxx]

>Thank you very much.
> On default rate.  This is on the average of 3%.  
Indeed 4 of our 14
> branches
> recorded zero percent as defualt in the year 2000.
>
> On collaboration with the Nigerian Government: In 
terms of programme
> implementation there is currently no collaboration.  
However I have at
> various levels and times shared our experience with 
relevant government
> agencies on community development especially 
microfinance.
>
> On NGO and NAPEP.  We believe that NGOs being 
basically peoples'
> organizations,
> can be effective structures for the implementation of 
NAPEP.  This could be
> realised by microfinance NGOs acting as:
> i.    on-lending institutions
> ii.   mobilization agents
> iii.  monitoring agents
>
> Micro Credit and Poverty alleviation
> We at LAPO believe that microcredit is a vital tool 
for economic
> empowerment
> which in itself is crucial to poverty alleviation.  
Strengths of
> microfinance include:
> *    exclusive focus on the worst victims of 
poverty.  Impact is remarkable
> and insanteneous
> *    flexibility of its delivery structures and 
processes
>
> Godwin Ehigiamusoe
    LAPO
>