Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA), in partnership with Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Financial Services (SIDFS), an initiative of Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, has outfitted 147 professionals with sensible abilities to use monetary inclusion information in policymaking, in the direction of addressing key challenges throughout Nigeria’s monetary inclusion ecosystem.
Delivered by means of the Leveraging Financial Inclusion Data for Policymaking course, the initiative sought to strengthen contributors’ capacity to make use of proof to tell coverage selections and help extra inclusive monetary methods. This focus is especially related following the discharge of EFInA’s 2026 Access to Financial Services (A2F) Survey findings, as stakeholders work to translate the proof into insurance policies and interventions that reply to the wants of underserved populations.
Over seven weeks, contributors accomplished seven modules combining e-learning with reside digital periods. They explored how monetary inclusion information, together with insights from the Global Findex and A2F Surveys, may also help establish gaps, perceive the wants of underserved teams and inform coverage priorities.
The programme’s impression was mirrored in enhancements in contributors’ information and confidence.
Knowledge accuracy elevated from 72.5 per cent earlier than the course to 88.5 per cent afterwards, whereas confidence in making use of the abilities rose by 21.5 share factors. These beneficial properties level to stronger readiness amongst contributors to make use of information of their skilled work and coverage selections. That strengthened capability was put into follow by means of the course’s capstone assignments. They suggest suggestions on points equivalent to agent banking geo-tagging, inclusive eKYC, shopper safety, open finance, Takaful, pension literacy and rural youth credit score. These proposals deal with key challenges throughout Nigeria’s monetary inclusion ecosystem and have the potential to tell ongoing coverage discussions and interventions.
According to EFInA’s Research Lead, Dr Oluwatomi Eromosele, “We are encouraged by the progress participants have made, from improved knowledge and confidence to developing policy briefs that address real financial inclusion challenges. These results show that when professionals are equipped to interpret and apply financial inclusion evidence, they are better positioned to identify gaps, assess policy needs and recommend responses that reflect the realities of underserved communities. We look forward to seeing this strengthened capacity contribute to more effective policymaking in Nigeria.”
Participants additionally described how the course had modified their method to utilizing monetary inclusion information. One participant shared: “I now approach financial inclusion data more intentionally, not just as information to understand trends, but as evidence for identifying gaps, understanding underserved groups, and informing more targeted policy and interventions.” Another participant mirrored: “I now approach policy decisions with a more evidence-based mindset, and I am better equipped to identify where interventions are needed most.”
Together, these reflections illustrate the programme’s central purpose: to assist professionals transfer past understanding monetary inclusion information to making use of it in methods that may help extra focused, evidence-informed coverage and interventions.
The course was delivered by means of EFInA’s partnership with SIDFS, an initiative of Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, which helps inclusive digital monetary providers by means of analysis, capability constructing and engagement.
