Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Company Limited has helped transform the lives of thousands of Sierra Leoneans that are mostly in the business community.
The company is currently celebrating its Customers Service Week across the country, wherein it hopes to provide gifts to its client in all its 34 branches across the country.
LAPO held an official ceremony at its Adelaide Streets Headquarters to celebrate its customers’ patronage, which was climaxed with the presentation of customised gifts like umbrellas, wall clocks, bags, pens, etc.
LAPO-SL’s Head Client Relations and Marketing, Joy Eshiague, described her institution as a microfinance institution centered on boosting business people so that their businesses can be transformed to a better position.
She said since they started operations in the country in 2008 they can now boast of having over 50,000 customers across all 34 branches nationwide.
“We are happy that we are expanding day by day and we continue to bring smiles to the faces of our customers,” she remarked, adding; “We are using the customers’ week to celebrate and appreciate our customers for staying with the company. We want them to know that they are our priority and we have them at heart.”
Mrs. Eshiague pointed out that the celebration goes with a little gift as a sign of appreciation, especially during the festive season.
“LAPO is appreciating them during the COVID. We want them to stay safe and healthy at all times,” she said.
Customers present expressed nice sentiments about LAPO and they thanked the company for the gift, which they highly appreciated. They promised to continue doing business with the company.
In 2008, LAPO launched the MFI LAPO SL in Sierra Leone. True to the mission of the company, the MFI essentially provides micro-loans to women in disadvantaged areas.
80% of the borrowers are women, 20% men and 48% live in rural areas, with an average disbursed loan of EUR 368. The microfinance institution, which later becomes a bank, supports more than 50,000 clients across 34 branches. It is one of the most important financial institutions of the country with a coverage of 80% of the national territory.
Most outstanding are concentrated in the services and trade activity sectors.
The procedures of LAPO SL are characterized by a powerful and motivating system of supervision and withdrawal. The LAPO SL methodology allows very good control of credit risk and customer relationships.
The organization also has a team in charge of non-profit activities, whose mission is to lead mandatory awareness training on health, education, and gender issues for all client groups at least once a year.
The flagship product of LAPO SL is the group loan to women in disadvantaged areas. It represents 94% of customers and 41% of the total outstanding. The company has also developed a range of individual products for micro-premium customers, SMEs, and employees.
