Financial Digital Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Evidence from Nigeria
Abstract
The limited influence of African women on resources and decision-making has posed significant challenges to their capabilities and empowerment for decades. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of financial inclusion in advancing women’s economic empowerment within the Nigerian context, drawing on data from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The analysis focuses on women’s empowerment in terms of their participation in decision-making related to their own earnings and healthcare. Key financial inclusion variables include the use of mobile money and account ownership. The findings reveal that the odds of women making decisions regarding their earnings and healthcare are approximately 36% and 25% higher, respectively, for those who use mobile phones for financial transactions compared to those who do not. Additionally, women without an account in a financial institution exhibit approximately 42% and 32% lower odds of making decisions about their earnings and healthcare, respectively. This research contributes to the literature on digital financial inclusion and highlights its pivotal role in enhancing women's empowerment and promoting gender equality in Nigeria.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Akeju Kemi Funlayo, Oluwayemisi Kadijat Adeleke, Ani, Judith Ifunanya, Chisaa Onyekachi Igbolekwu
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