admin | June 19, 2026
News Brief
For poultry entrepreneur Christabel Omoba in Edo State, Nigeria, unreliable electricity once threatened both her business and her family’s well-being. Frequent power outages put poultry products at risk of spoilage, leading to financial losses. Through Heifer Nigeria’s In-Power Her initiative, she gained access to a solar-powered freezer that allows her to safely store poultry and operate a hub-and-spoke distribution model for local women and youth. The reliable off-grid system has reduced costs, increased income, strengthened food security, and created new economic opportunities within her community.
Unreliable electricity is a challenge for small businesses in many places, and Edo State, Nigeria, is no exception. For Christabel Omoba, a determined poultry entrepreneur, an unstable power supply was more than a daily inconvenience; it was a constant threat to her family’s food security and her hard-won independence.
She explains, “In the poultry business, the cold chain is the lifeline. Without consistent power, chicken spoils and profits disappear.” The constant risk of spoilage turned every investment into a gamble, with her children’s future at stake.
Solar power and a hub-and-spoke model has provided her business the stability it needs to prosper. Heifer Nigeria’s In-Power Her initiative helped her to access a high-capacity solar-powered freezer to store large volumes of poultry safely.
Mrs. Omoba now operates a hub, storing products for youth and other women for a fee. These individuals sell fresh products throughout the community using insulated carts. Since the products stay frozen, they can return unsold products to her freezer, reducing risk of financial loss.
The solar-powered freezer operates off-grid, with batteries that store energy and keep the freezer running consistently. No longer dependent on expensive generator fuel or the unpredictability of the national power supply, Mrs. Omoba can now preserve her poultry products with confidence. Solar power has allowed her to grow her business. She can buy products at a favorable rate, stock more at once, and reduce costs related to transportation, fuel and spoilage.
She says, “I feel privileged to have this freezer. It is not something I could have afforded on my own. I feel empowered.”
That empowerment extends beyond her business. With a steady income, Mrs. Omoba can now ensure that her family has nutritious meals and her children’s school fees are paid on time. Her success has also strengthened household dynamics, earning her increased respect and support from her husband, who proudly tells her, “My wife, you are doing well.”
As she continues to grow her business, Mrs. Omoba is a visible example of success for other women in Edo State. With her mastery of the hub-and-spoke approach, she is demonstrating how sustainable technology can unlock pathways from vulnerability to prosperity — for her neighbors and the next generation.
This story is based on an article written by Onyekachi Ayevbuomwan for Heifer International, titled “With Solar Power, a Poultry Entrepreneur in Nigeria Restores Her Dignity.” To read the full story, go to: https://www.heifer.org/blog/solar-power-poultry-entrepreneur-nigeria