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Financial Inclusion and the Role of Women in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Ogunleye Toyin Segun
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
african development review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1467-8268
pISSN - 1017-6772
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8268.12254
Subject(s) - microfinance , financial inclusion , outreach , assertion , loan , business , panel data , demographic economics , economics , financial system , finance , economic growth , financial services , econometrics , computer science , programming language
The study tests the assertion that greater lending to microfinance female clients leads to an improvement in repayment rate. The study uses unbalanced panel data framework of 752 microfinance banks (MFBs) in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2014. Findings from the regressions confirm a positive impact of female inclusion on loan repayment rate. A higher proportion of female clients is associated with a greater repayment rate and with fewer loan provisions. The study recommends that microfinance banks should target specifically women clients in Nigeria, as greater lending to them will improve outreach to the poor.