The role of financial inclusion in women's economic empowerment : evidence from Nigeria

The inclusion of women into the financial system promotes economic development. However, in Nigeria, women face disproportionate financial exclusion. The main purpose of this study was to examine the role of financial inclusion in women's economic empowerment within the Nigerian context. Employing a quantitative approach, the study surveyed Nigerian women in two self-help groups to evaluate the extent to which financial inclusion had contributed to their economic empowerment. The results indicate that financial inclusion significantly facilitates women's economic empowerment in terms of improved access to financial systems, affordable financial products, and investment avenues. These underscore the role of financial inclusion in elevating women's economic empowerment. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers can leverage these findings to inform tailored interventions promoting women's financial inclusion and empowerment. The researcher's unique contribution lies in the comprehensive exploration of the relationship between financial inclusion and economic development significantly furthering the expansion of specialised scientific literature by enhancing discourse on the intricate relationship between financial inclusion and women's economic empowerment. The study encourages further research to explore the connection between financial inclusion and women's economic empowerment by assessing diverse social, cultural, and economic contexts, the long-term impact of financial inclusion, and gaining deeper insight into the role of this inclusion through qualitative inquiry.