EFInA Unveils Inclusion for All Mainstream Voices Community to Strengthen Pro-Poor Financial Inclusion Advocacy in Nigeria 

Lagos, Nigeria, January 23, 2026 — Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA), through its Inclusion for All (I4All) initiative, has formally announced the Inclusion for All Mainstream Voices Network, a structured network of professionals, advocates, and community representatives convened to advance pro-poor financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Nigeria. 

The announcement follows the onboarding session held on January 16, 2026, which marked a significant milestone in I4All’s effort to organise influence deliberately by bringing together lived experience, industry expertise, advocacy, and storytelling to ensure that the needs of excluded, poor, and vulnerable Nigerians are consistently represented in policy, regulation, and service/product design. 

Speaking during the session, Foyinsolami Akinjayeju, Chief Executive Officer, EFInA, emphasised that the next phase of financial inclusion requires more than access alone. She noted that while progress has been made over time, closing the remaining gaps will require large-scale awareness and sustained public engagement to address misinformation, information asymmetries, and trust deficits across the financial system. 

According to the CEO, the Mainstream Voices Network was created to meet this need by leveraging credible voices across the Nigerian economy to support advocacy and public enlightenment at scale. She explained that by strengthening consumer awareness, trust, and promoting understanding of financial rights and protections, the initiative aims to empower individuals to make better financial decisions, improve resilience at the household level, and contribute to broader economic stability. 

Inclusion for All mainstream voices network is therefore focused on organising influence for impact. The  Network connects respected professionals, technical experts, civil society leaders, industry practitioners, and community representatives in a coordinated structure where each voice plays a defined role. Members may publicly champion reforms, work behind the scenes to influence regulation, or amplify grassroots realities through media and storytelling, forming a collective that strengthens the credibility and reach of pro-poor advocacy. 

Commenting on the significance of the network, Chinasa Collins-Ogbuo, Head, Inclusion for All Initiative, underscored the importance of intentional coordination, stating that “real inclusion requires more than good intentions; it requires organised influence.” She added that “through the Mainstream Voices, we are intentionally connecting credible voices across the ecosystem to strengthen how evidence, lived realities, and reform conversations come together to drive the systemic change that we all want to see.” 

The Mainstream Voices constitute a critical part of the Inclusion for All Community and are activated to support specific campaigns and advocacy efforts based on their relevance to priority issues and their ability to add strategic value. Through their engagement, they help bridge grassroots realities with high-level policy and industry discourse, provide credible insights drawn from lived experience and professional practice, strengthen evidence-based advocacy using data and real-world examples, and amplify pro-poor narratives across public platforms. 

During the onboarding session, EFInA formally unveiled the inaugural members of the Inclusion for All Mainstream Voices Network. The members include Angonimi David-Imeh, Founder and Visionary Lead of Hope Raisers Global Foundation, a nationwide organisation working to restore dignity, hope, and opportunity for vulnerable women and children through education, health, empowerment, and sustainable development initiatives across Nigeria; Edidiong “Didi” Uwemakpan, Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Moniepoint Group, a senior financial services communications and brand strategy professional with extensive experience shaping consumer behaviour and driving growth across major brands in Nigeria’s financial services and telecommunications sectors; Fabia Ogunmekan, Principal Consultant, ADABA Initiatives, a seasoned gender and social development professional with nearly two decades of experience advancing gender-responsive advocacy, stakeholder mobilisation, and equitable opportunities for women and marginalised groups; and Jennifer Mairo, Chief Executive Officer of Joy Inc., a media, storytelling, and organisational development leader whose work focuses on amplifying African narratives, advancing inclusive storytelling, and strengthening the creative ecosystem at the intersection of media and social impact. 

Reflecting on the purpose of the network and its people-centred focus, Uche Enyioha, Inclusion for All Manager, described the initiative as a deliberate effort to shift financial inclusion conversations closer to the realities of everyday Nigerians. He explained that the Inclusion for All Community is designed to ensure that grassroots perspectives meaningfully shape discussions on how policies, regulations, and financial services affect access, opportunity, and economic outcomes. According to him, the Mainstream Voices Network provides a platform to move these conversations into the mainstream, driving sustained dialogue on financial inclusion, economic empowerment, and the policy and service-related issues that influence them. He noted that the objective is to catalyse positive change across the system, including how policies are shaped, how products and services are designed and delivered, and how individuals engage with and respond to inclusion and empowerment opportunities.  

As the Inclusion for All Mainstream Voices Community is activated, EFInA reaffirms its commitment to advancing a more inclusive financial system that works for all Nigerians, particularly those most at risk of exclusion.  

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About EFInA 

Established in 2007, EFInA (Enhancing Financial Inclusion & Advancement) leads Nigeria’s financial sector development through its commitment to national financial inclusion. The organisation drives systemic change through research, advocacy, and innovation, working to expand access to financial services that enhance the economic well-being of all Nigerians, with particular focus on underserved and unbanked populations. 

For media inquiries, contact: Email: ookafor@efina.org.ng