Nigeria has made undeniable progress in expanding access to financial services. In just 15 years, the percentage of adults without access to formal banking dropped from 53% to 26%. But behind this success lies a growing concern: women in Nigeria are still significantly excluded from the financial system.
Despite the rise of digital wallets, fintech apps, and agent banking, a gender gap persists, and it’s not improving. According to recent data from the Nigerian Payments 2025 Report:
These numbers show that Nigeria’s financial revolution still leaves millions of women behind. And that’s a missed opportunity.
Women represent more than half of Nigeria’s population. When they’re excluded from access to savings, credit, insurance, and payments, their families, communities, and the national economy all miss out.
The challenges are layered:
In rural areas, these barriers are even steeper. Without digital access or financial education, many women remain locked out of the tools that could transform their businesses and livelihoods.
Nigerian banks are currently raising over ₦1.7 trillion in new capital. Fintech is booming, and more people are getting connected. There has never been a better time to design financial systems that include rather than exclude.
From targeted loan programs for women-led agribusinesses to mobile-friendly savings platforms, the solutions exist. What’s needed is the will to build them.
Want to know more about how Nigeria can bridge this gap and unlock the potential of over 100 million women? Read the full Nigerian Payments 2025 Report here and see the complete data, insights, and policy recommendations.
