Study reveals 38% of women in Northern Nigeria lack access to financial services

A new study by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University Kano, supported by the Gates Foundation, found that 38% of women in Northern Nigeria lack access to financial services. The report, titled “Understanding Influence and Behaviour in Northern Nigeria,” was unveiled in Abuja. It indicates that while 52% of women are financially served, only 45% use formal financial services through institutions like deposit money banks and microfinance institutions, with an additional 7% using other formal non-bank financial products. Professor Yusuf Garba, Director of Academic Planning at Bayero University, stated that the research, which began in 2024 and spanned 18 months, aimed to understand why the region lags in financial access, examining how social norms, authority structures, trust hierarchies, gender norms, and religious considerations influence decisions related to finance, health, and education. Principal Investigator Professor Ismael Zango noted that the findings align with National Bureau of Statistics data on poverty and unemployment, with unemployment at about 37% and poverty levels averaging 80% across Northern Nigeria. Zango emphasized that addressing financial exclusion requires more than temporary interventions, advocating for sustainable development through equipping women and youth with market-driven skills, citing successful women-led initiatives. Mrs. Foyinsolami Akinjayeju, Chief Executive Officer of Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advanceme