The Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA) initiative, collaborating with the Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Financial Services (SIDFS) program of the Lagos Business School, has successfully trained 147 professionals on how to effectively use financial inclusion data in policymaking. This training seeks to tackle critical challenges within Nigeria’s financial inclusion landscape.
The program, titled ‘Leveraging Financial Inclusion Data for Policymaking,’ aimed to bolster the capacity of participants to utilize evidence in shaping policy decisions, which is increasingly important in light of the recent EFInA 2026 Access to Financial Services (A2F) Survey. This survey provides vital data that stakeholders can use to inform policies and interventions geared towards underserved populations.
Over a span of seven weeks, participants engaged in an intensive curriculum of seven modules, blending online learning with live virtual sessions. They examined financial inclusion data, including findings from the Global Findex and A2F Surveys, to pinpoint gaps, understand the needs of underserved communities, and prioritize policy actions accordingly.
Notable improvements were reported in the participants’ knowledge and confidence levels regarding financial inclusion data usage. Before the course, participants had a knowledge accuracy rate of 72.5 percent, which increased to 88.5 percent following the training. Furthermore, their confidence in applying the learned skills jumped by 21.5 percentage points.
These enhancements were demonstrated through capstone assignments where participants made recommendations on a range of topics such as agent banking geo-tagging, inclusive eKYC, consumer protection, open finance, Takaful, pension literacy, and credit access for rural youth. These proposals address pressing challenges within the financial inclusion ecosystem in Nigeria and are expected to contribute meaningfully to ongoing policy discussions.
EFInA’s Research Lead noted the progress made by participants, highlighting the importance of equipping professionals to apply financial inclusion evidence in real-world contexts. This training not only prepares them to identify critical gaps but also enables them to tailor policy responses reflective of the needs of underserved communities.
Participants have reported a shift in how they approach financial inclusion data, viewing it as a vital evidence base for discerning gaps and informing targeted policy interventions. This program underscores the commitment to fostering a more inclusive financial system in Nigeria.
