“I got married just right after spending five years in primary school and started business as a distributor with my husband. When the business started thriving, I went back to school because I always had a goal to acquire knowledge and gain skills necessary to be a successfulbusinesswoman.” Lady Anthonia Okeke, a 65-year-old mother of five, recalls.
Her business became Celestine Okeke and Sons, Aba, a major distributorship in Nigeria’s Southeast, where she now sits as Operations Director.
“We have grown a lot since we started, to God be the glory. We started small and have been expanding ever since; now we are here. The business is a family business; we collaborate and play our parts. My eldest son handles the business in Uyo while my husband and I manage Aba. We have been in the business together since 1984. We started the business with Guinness in 1989.”
She says she loves her job because of how lucrative it has become.
“I’ve been able to send my kids to the best schools. To me, I have barely started, there is a long way to go, and I am excited to see the future.”
What words would she want young women in business to always remember?
“Don’t stop trying; there is nothing you cannot achieve if you work hard and stay genuine. I believe a woman can have it all, don’t wait for anyone to do things for you. My advice to women in this industry is to bring God into everything you do, be honest, that way you build trust,which is very important in this line of work.”
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-pile-of-money.jpg?id=61439647&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=45%2C0%2C45%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you're raising kids in Quebec, the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-child-benefit" target="_blank">Canada Child Benefit (CCB)</a> is likely one of the most consistent forms of support you see each month. And with the August 2025 payment on the way, many parents are now receiving more money than before, thanks to the recently adjusted federal rates.</p><p>Whether you're new to the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/government-benefits" target="_blank">benefit</a> or just wondering how much is coming this time around, here's what to know about the August CCB payment, including the new rates, eligibility details, and when to expect your deposit.</p><h3>What is the Canada Child Benefit?</h3><br/><p>The CCB (or Allocation canadienne pour enfants, in French) is a monthly, non-taxable payment from the federal government meant to help with the costs of raising children under 18. That can include anything from school supplies to snacks to new clothes when they hit their next growth spurt.</p><p>To qualify, you need to:</p><ul><li>Live in Canada and be a tax resident</li><li>Live with and primarily care for a child under 18</li><li>Have filed your 2024 taxes (and your partner's, if applicable)</li></ul><p>In shared custody situations, the benefit is typically split evenly between both parents.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-we-calculate-your-ccb.html" target="_blank">More about CCB payments</a></p><h3>How much can parents get in August 2025?</h3><br/><p>If your income is on the lower end, you could qualify for the maximum monthly benefit, which is:</p><ul><li>$666.41 per child under 6</li><li>$562.33 per child aged 6 to 17</li></ul><p>These new indexed rates took effect in July 2025 and reflect increases tied to inflation — roughly $17 to $19 more per child compared to the previous rates.</p><p>If your adjusted family net income (AFNI) is above $37,487, you may still be eligible for partial payments. You can estimate your benefit using the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/child-family-benefits-calculator.html" target="_blank">CRA's Child and Family Benefits Calculator</a>.</p><h3>When is the next payment?</h3><br/><p>The August 2025 CCB payment will be deposited on Tuesday, August 20.</p><p>If you've signed up for direct deposit, it should hit your account that day. If you're receiving a paper cheque, allow a few extra business days for delivery.</p><p>Here are the remaining 2025 payment dates:</p><ul> <li><strong><span>September 19</span></strong></li><li><strong><span>October 20</span></strong></li><li><strong><span>November 20</span></strong></li><li><strong><span>December 12</span></strong></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/calendar.html" target="_blank">More about federal benefit payment dates</a></p><div><strong></strong></div><h3>How to apply for the CCB</h3><br/><p>Not getting the CCB yet? You can apply in a few ways:</p><ul><li>Through your CRA My Account online</li><li>When registering your child’s birth</li><li>By mailing in Form RC66 to the CRA</li></ul><p>Once enrolled, you don't need to reapply every year. Just file your taxes annually to keep receiving payments.</p><p>And a reminder: the Canada Child Benefit is 100% tax-free, so whatever lands in your account is yours to keep.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-apply.html" target="_blank">More about applying for the CCB</a></p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
