By Tokpa Tarnue tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- BRAC Liberia Microfinance Company Limited (BLMCL) has opened its 35th branch in the New Voinjama Community, Voinjama Lofa County.
The March 1, 2023 ceremony brought together several government officials, BRAC Liberia clients or borrowers and officials as well.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of BRAC Liberia Dyson Mandivenga said BRAC Liberia which is currently one of the leading developmental organizations around the world operates in over eleven countries including countries in Africa.
He said, the organization seeks to transform the lives of ordinary citizens by fighting against poverty.
“Since our establishment in 2008, we are the largest microfinance provider in Liberia providing inclusive finance services to people living in poverty with major focus on women who are living in hard-to-reach communities” he emphasized.
He said BRAC mission is to provide a range of financial services responsibly to people at the bottom of the pyramid specifically for women to create self-employment opportunities, build financial resilience and harness women’s entrepreneurial spirit by empowering them economically.
According to him, BRAC is also involved into several other activities including agriculture, health and education among others.
Giving an overview of the opening of the 37th branch, BRAC Liberia’s program manager Nur Alam Siddiki disclosed that institution currently has over fifty thousand clients across the country with a disbursement of over nine million United Stated Dollars to its clients.
He said BRAC is here to provide support to people wanting to support themselves.
He challenged community members to take ownership of the programs provided by brac Liberia.
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Speaking on behave of Central Bank of Liberia governor at the occasion Abdulla Molley praised BRAC for its initiatives to support women in the country, which he said are in line with the government’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development describing BRAC Liberia as being very helpful in spreading the CBL Financial Inclusion Strategy.
He said the CBL as the regulatory arm of government will always provide a level plain field within the financial sector of the country.
He described micro financing as the engine of economic growth in every society with Liberia been of no exception.
According to him, BRAC Liberia is currently the biggest non-bank financial institutions in the country.
He pledged the Central Bank’s full support and collaboration to the work of BRAC Liberia in ensuring the successful implementation of microfinance activities in the country.
Mr. Molley further called on all clients to meaningfully and purposefully use the money received to improve their individual businesses.
Meanwhile, Voinjama district commissioner Albert Salee has challenged women benefiting from BRAC Liberia microfinance program to be committed in paying back to the institution.
According to commissioner Salee, the failure to pay funds back to the institution will denied others from benefiting the program which seeks to transform the lives of the ordinary people.
He further challenged workers of BRAC Liberia to exhibit good customer relations with their client.
According to commissioner Salee, some of the workers at BRAC lakes miner of approached.
He spoke during the official opening of BRAC Liberia’s 37th branch in Voinjama.
For her part, Voinjama city mayor Madam Korto Harris said BRAC Liberia has over the years impacted the lives for several Liberians across the country.
According to Madam Korto Harris, the level of empowerment provided to women in Liberia by BRAC Liberia can never go unnoticed.
The ceremony also witness the disbursement s of $25,000 Liberian Dollars each to several new clients as part the branch opening program.
Besides its microfinance activities under BLMCL, BRAC under the NGO BRAC Liberia has carried out social development programs since 2008 in agriculture and food security, health, education, empowerment and livelihood for adolescents, and ultra-poor graduation programs.