The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is intensifying efforts to enhance financial inclusion, particularly among women and underserved groups. Deputy Governor Emem Usoro highlighted these initiatives during Citibank's inaugural Women in Central Banking event in London, emphasizing the transformative role of financial inclusion in economic growth.
The CBN's assessment revealed a 9% gender gap in access to finance, attributed to low trust in financial service providers and limited financial literacy. In response, the CBN established a Gender Desk within its Financial Inclusion Unit to address these challenges.
Usoro expressed confidence that the CBN's strategic initiatives under Governor Olayemi Cardoso's leadership will significantly improve financial inclusion for women and other underserved groups, thereby unlocking economic potential.
These efforts underscore the CBN's commitment to fostering a more inclusive financial ecosystem, recognizing that when women thrive, economies prosper and opportunities multiply.