Financial Technology as a Tool for Promoting Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

Abstract

Financial technology (FinTech) as a concept and practice, started gaining serious worldwide traction following the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008. Thus, this paper is undertaken to critically discuss the emerging trends in financial technology and how they enhance financial inclusion, as well as the problems faced by financial technology in financial inclusion, with a specific focus on Nigeria. The paper adopts the exploratory qualitative research approach, using secondary data sources involving an extensive review of recent articles, periodicals, empirical and analytical studies, policy discussions, working papers, and other documented materials found to be pertinent to the study. The paper reveals that over the last decade, Fintech’s contribution to financial inclusion in Nigeria has exploded. FinTech has improved the usual way of rendering financial services and has created new inventions that have made financial activities not only more accessible but also faster, thereby easing the lives of financial service users in Nigeria, where mobile network technology is powering financial inclusion and bringing more people into the financial system. Despite the contributions of FinTech to financial inclusion in Nigeria, the paper notes the issue of high level of attrition in customer patronization and the threat of Cyber-attacks as major challenges. Based on this therefore, the paper recommends the need for regulatory bodies to do more to bring synergy between the operating companies and their interactions with the customers and prospective consumers for proper sensitization about these fintech services, considering the disinterest of many due to distrust of the system. Furthermore, the paper recommends that regulatory bodies should develop a more effective framework for monitoring cyber risk management at financial institutions using technology and laws that will duly prosecute cyber criminals and serve as a deterrent to others.