By Henry Obetta

Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access, EFInA, has called for stronger collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, development partners, and women’s associations to advance women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Nigeria.

The call was made at EFInA’s International Women’s Month Convening 2026 held in Abuja with the theme ‘Gather, Gain, Grow,’ where stakeholders explored practical strategies to improve women’s access to formal financial services and strengthen their participation in the economy.

Speaking at the event, EFInA Chief Executive Officer, Foyinsolami Akinjayeju, said the convening was not just a celebration but a call to action for deliberate investment in women.

Akinjayeju said: “This convening goes beyond celebration. It represents a call to commitment, stronger partnerships, and deliberate action. Inclusive growth cannot be achieved without intentional investment in women, particularly women entrepreneurs who drive economic activity across Nigeria,”

She noted that women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, play a vital role in employment generation and economic productivity, yet many women still face barriers in accessing formal financial services.

In her goodwill message, Director of Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, stressed the need for enabling policies and tailored financial products.

Isa-Olatinwo said: “Advancing women’s financial inclusion requires clear policy pathways and financial services that are responsive, affordable, and relevant to women’s realities,”

Also speaking, Nurudeen Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Financial Inclusion, described support for women as a pathway to national development, noting that women remain a priority group under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

He stated: “Supporting women is equivalent to supporting national development. The mid-term assessment of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy shows that women remain a key focus in improving financial inclusion outcomes.”

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Women Affairs, Hadiza Maina emphasised the importance of partnerships between grassroots women’s groups and institutional actors to bridge the financial inclusion gap.

Similarly, Michael Ilesanmi, Senior Financial Sector Specialist at the World Bank, described women-led enterprises as critical to inclusive growth and financial system stability.

He said: “Women-led enterprises, especially those within organised associations, represent a key segment for achieving inclusive growth and strengthening the financial system.”

EFInA’s Gender Lead, Emezino Afiegbe, highlighted the role of women’s associations as trusted platforms for engagement and financial inclusion.

“Women’s groups and associations are pathways for early and consistent engagement with formal financial services. Financial service providers must focus on women collectives and adopt women-centered design to build solutions around their lived realities,” he explained.

He added that EFInA’s Gender Centre of Excellence would continue to build the capacity of financial service providers to deliver productive credit to women entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers while supporting regulators to sustain an enabling environment.

The convening ended with participants committing to concrete actions aimed at expanding women’s financial inclusion through stronger partnerships, improved financial products, and sustained ecosystem collaboration.

EFInA reaffirmed its commitment to building a financial system that works for all Nigerians, particularly underserved populations, through evidence-based innovation and strategic partnerships.