Improving women’s digital and financial inclusion in Nigeria: a nudging and capacity based human rights framework

Abstract

Abstract This article seeks to increase access to digital financial payment services for women and minority groups in the informal sector in urban–rural, south–south, south–west and north–central regions of Nigeria. Our data reveal that regardless of the participants’ educational level, request for support for digital and financial literacy skills is high across all three regions. Regional variances, the dominance of social and cultural norms, poor enforcement of laws meant that previous attempts to improve womens’ digital and financial inclusion having limited impact. Financial inclusion is a key catalyst and enabler for poverty reduction and economic growth. Our article proposes an original two-pronged strategy consisting of soft ‘nudging’ to influence human behavioural changes and a capacity based human rights framework targeting poverty reduction.