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Paper short abstract

Despite Nigeria's financial inclusion progress since 2015, true justice—equitable access amid exclusions—eludes vulnerable groups. This paper will examine the role of community agencies' using indigenous knowledge to bridge gaps and enhance the achievement of financial inclusion and justice.

Paper long abstract

Financial inclusion in Nigeria has advanced significantly since 2015, yet achieving true financial justice—equitable access that addresses systemic exclusions—remains elusive for vulnerable populations. This paper proposes to explore the pivotal role of community agencies in leveraging indigenous knowledge to bridge these gaps, drawing on longitudinal data from Waves 3 (2015-2016), 4 (2018-2019), and 5 (2023-2024) of the Nigeria General Household Survey-Panel (GHS-Panel). In particular, the study will examine how local organizations facilitate informal and digital services, incorporating social norms to promote resilience.

Key objectives include evaluating agencies' impact on inclusion, analyzing gender dynamics in finance adoption, and assessing vulnerability mitigation for groups such as women, migrants, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities in underserved regions. Employing difference-in-differences modeling and disaggregated analysis from ICT, safety nets, and community modules, the research will highlight intersections including how women's lower digital literacy affect gender-based violence and pandemic-induced inequalities.

Focusing on vulnerabilities, the paper will underscore how indigenous practices empower marginalized communities, countering formal biases. Expected outcomes include scalable guidelines for community-driven models with gender mainstreaming, a policy paper, and a capacity-building toolkit, contributing to sustainable financial justice in Nigeria's evolving landscape.