A new national study has revealed a profound mismatch between female enterprise ownership and access to institutional finance in Nigeria, disclosing that while women own nearly 40 per cent of businesses across the country, they continue to receive a disproportionately small share of formal credit.
The Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Baseline Report, launched by the Impact Investors Foundation on Thursday in Lagos, laid bare a stark systemic capital mobilisation gap, noting that a mere 23 per cent of Nigerian women currently hold formal bank accounts compared to 77 per cent of their male counterparts.
The event, themed ‘From Commitment to Action: Strengthening Inclusive Gender Lens Investment for Nigeria’s Growth’, served as the launchpad for the historic Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Baseline Report.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Impact Investors Foundation, Etemore Glover, delivered the core finding behind the study.
Glover said, “The GESI Baseline Report is more than a document; it is the data-driven foundation required to fix structural barriers in our financial system. While women own nearly 40 per cent of Nigerian businesses, they receive a disproportionately small share of formal credit.
