February 27, 2025
I spent a month in Lagos, Nigeria back in December 2019 as part of my research to develop an economic empowerment program for women.
During this time, I observed a significant barrier to economic development: the lack of access to technology. Despite rapid advancements in digital innovation in Nigeria, a substantial portion of the population still struggles to access basic technological tools, such as smartphones and the internet. This lack of access is particularly acute for women, who are already disproportionately affected by poverty, inequality, and limited opportunities for education and economic independence. Without access to mobile phones and digital services, millions of Nigerians remain cut off from essential financial resources, which hinders their ability to grow businesses, manage finances, and improve their livelihoods.
According to the World Bank, the international poverty line in Nigeria is around $2.15 per day per capita, which is classified as extreme poverty. For many, these harsh living conditions make it incredibly difficult to access basic services, including financial ones. The lack of access to technology only compounds this issue, as it limits opportunities for individuals to tap into the digital economy, gain financial independence, or participate fully in the formal economy.
A 2019 survey from the Pew Research Center highlighted that while 39% of Nigerians own a smartphone, 44% only have basic mobile phones, and 17% have no mobile phone at all. This digital divide underscores the challenge of integrating vast segments of the population into the formal economy. With over 44% of Nigeria’s population living in extreme poverty, and with women facing additional gender-based barriers, there is a pressing need for targeted solutions that bridge the gap and provide economic opportunities for those left behind by traditional financial systems.
I developed a proposal aimed at empowering Nigerian women by providing them with digital financial inclusion tools. The goal was to offer women in underserved communities the opportunity to engage with financial services, even without access to traditional banking infrastructure. By creating a shared-value business model centered on technology and cooperative finance, this proposal aimed to increase financial independence among women, using accessible digital platforms to overcome the barriers created by the lack of physical infrastructure.
A key component of this model is the Self-Help Group (SHG) approach, where women come together to form cooperative savings groups, an economic method commonly used in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa. These groups would pool their savings, and rotate loans to each other to invest in their own trade activities, all while receiving ongoing training in financial literacy, leadership, and technology. By integrating mobile banking and cooperative finance, these women would have access to secure and transparent financial management tools through their mobile phones, whether they own a smartphone or a basic mobile phone.
The integration of mobile technology is particularly important in Nigeria, where access to fixed landline services is extremely limited. As of 2013, only 0.2% of Nigerians had access to landlines, highlighting the overwhelming reliance on mobile phones for communication and financial transactions. Digital financial inclusion, through mobile platforms, is therefore one of the most viable solutions for reaching women in remote areas who might otherwise have no access to banking services.
Despite the clear potential, the digital divide remains a formidable obstacle. Women, in particular, face greater challenges in accessing mobile phones and the internet. In Nigeria, only 31% of smartphone owners are women, compared to 47% of men, demonstrating a clear gender gap in mobile technology ownership and usage. This gap not only limits women’s access to digital financial services but also hinders their ability to benefit from other opportunities, such as education and entrepreneurship.
Through initiatives such as this one, we can bridge the digital divide by providing women with the tools they need to manage their finances, grow their businesses, and become more resilient in the face of economic shocks. By offering access to mobile-based financial platforms, training, and cooperative saving and lending systems, we can enable women to achieve greater financial independence and contribute to more sustainable, inclusive local economies.
The potential of digital financial inclusion to transform the lives of women in Nigeria is immense. By empowering women with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital economy, we can create a more equitable future, not only for women but for entire communities. Addressing the lack of access to technology, combined with investing in human capital and cooperative finance, provides a pathway out of poverty for many women in Nigeria, and could serve as a model for other parts of West Africa.
My time in Nigeria reinforced that the digital divide is not just a technological issue—it’s a barrier to economic participation and opportunity. By focusing on providing women with access to mobile-based financial tools and education, we can help close the gap, empower communities, and drive lasting change.
About the Author
Francesca Tiliakos is a passionate partnership and program manager with over 10 years of experience working with global organizations like Oxfam, UNICEF, and UN Women. Specializing in building strategic partnerships, Francesca thrives on turning ideas into sustainable and impactful, community-driven initiatives. Connect with Francesca on LinkedIn and UpWork.