In May 2025, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), in collaboration with the Africa Digital Finance Summit (ADFS), co-hosted a dynamic webinar titled “Empowering Women: Strategies for Digital Financial Inclusion.”

Held as the opening edition of a multi-part webinar series leading up to the ADFS Summit (November 2025) in South Africa, the conversation brought key stakeholders together to examine how Africa’s digital finance ecosystem can better serve women, especially those at the margins.

With insightful contributions from gender inclusion advocates, fintech leaders, and regulators, the session tackled some of the most urgent challenges:

What Was Discussed:

• Access & Affordability: Many Nigerian women remain excluded from digital finance tools due to affordability gaps, lack of access to devices or data, and limited digital literacy.
  
• Designing for Inclusion: Speakers called for financial products and platforms that are user-friendly, culturally aware, and designed with the real needs of women in mind.
  
• Data & Representation: Inclusive innovation must be driven by gender-disaggregated data and stronger representation of women in fintech leadership and policymaking.
  
• Policy & Partnerships: The need for deliberate policies and multisectoral partnerships to close gender gaps in mobile money, credit access, and digital ID coverage was emphasized.
  

The webinar made one truth unmistakably clear: women are not just users of finance—they are economic engines. Including them is not only a moral imperative, but it is a strategy for sustainable development.

Building on the momentum from the discussions held in May, the webinar series continued its journey in June 2025 with a deep dive into “Shaping Nigeria’s Digital Financial Future – Government Policies and Regulations for Accessible Fintech.” 

This crucial session shifted focus to examine the pivotal role of regulatory frameworks and government policies in fostering an inclusive digital financial ecosystem in Nigeria. Experts from government bodies, regulatory agencies, and the fintech industry including Yinka Edu, Council Member, Fintech Association of Nigeria and Leke Akinkunmi, Financial Regulatory Expert, shared invaluable insights into current policies, upcoming reforms, and the collaborative efforts required to ensure that fintech innovations are not only robust but also accessible to all segments of the Nigerian population. 

Discussions explored how responsible regulation can stimulate growth while safeguarding consumer interests and promoting financial stability. In all, the webinar emphasized the need for agile regulatory responses to keep pace with rapid technological advancements and underscored the importance of a transparent and supportive policy environment to unlock the full potential of digital finance in Nigeria. 

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