Katsina, Nigeria, February 19, 2026 – Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA), through its Inclusion for All (I4All) Initiative, and in partnership with SANEF and CARE Nigeria, has successfully convened the first round of community engagement sessions for the Grassroots Voices Network Project in Katsina State, marking an important milestone in the organisation’s ongoing efforts to deepen financial inclusion through community-driven approaches.
The sessions took place at the Local Government Council Secretariat in Mani Local Government Area and at Government Day Secondary School in Malumfashi Local Government Area. They brought together representatives of community groups, associations, informal sector clusters, and the EFInA project team to begin structured conversations on financial inclusion and everyday experiences with financial services. These meetings mark the first of five planned monthly engagements aimed at creating regular dialogue between underserved communities and key financial sector stakeholders. The sessions focused on building awareness, encouraging open discussion, and creating a platform where community experiences can help shape policies and services.
The I4ALL team engaged grassroots champions, agreed on priority areas for ongoing dialogue, and strengthened community understanding of financial inclusion and digital financial services. The conversations yielded valuable insights into access, trust, affordability, connectivity, customer experience, and consumer protection, highlighting how people use and experience financial services in their daily lives. These insights will help shape future stakeholder engagement and guide the next phase of the project.
Speaking on the importance of the engagement model, Chinasa Collins-Ogbuo, Head of EFInA’s Inclusion for All Initiative, said, “Financial inclusion cannot be fully understood from data alone. Listening directly to communities helps us understand how policies and services affect everyday life.”
In total, 92 individuals within the communities were identified as champions and activated across Mani and Malumfashi LGAs. Their involvement establishes a local platform that will support awareness efforts, feedback sharing, issue escalation, and ongoing collaboration. Reflecting on the sessions, Inclusion for All Manager, Uchenna Enyioha, noted, “The discussions showed that communities clearly understand the challenges they face and can point to practical solutions. Our responsibility is to ensure these voices inform decisions across the financial inclusion ecosystem.”
The engagements also marked the start of the project’s baseline survey, led by EFInA’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning team. The survey will provide evidence to support implementation, monitor changes over time, and assess project impact.
Enyioha added that future sessions will build on the initial conversations and focus on translating community feedback into tangible improvements. The Grassroots Voices Network Project, executed in partnership with CARE Nigeria and SANEF, is part of EFInA’s broader effort to support inclusive financial systems that enable resilience, opportunity, and economic participation for underserved populations.
As Nigeria continues to expand financial inclusion, initiatives that centre community voices are increasingly important in closing the gap between access and meaningful use. Through these engagements and the activation of community champions, EFInA’s Inclusion for All Initiative is strengthening community participation and ensuring that financial inclusion efforts reflect real experiences and priorities.
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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
