EFFECTS OF RURAL FINANCE INSTITUTION BUILDING PROGRAMME (RUFIN) ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE WOMEN IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

• A. A. Olaleye

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

  Author

• A. J. Jirgi

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

  Author

• K. M. Baba

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

  Author

• U. S. Mohammed

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

  Author

This study was undertaken to examine the extent of financial inclusion, financial inclusion statuses and the effect of Rural Finance Institution Building Programme on financial inclusion of economically active women in Northern Nigeria. The study utilized primary data collected with questionnaire administered to 390 women beneficiaries selected through multistage sampling procedure. Financial inclusion statuses of women were determined by using financial inclusion index which was computed as a ratio of credit amount in Naira equivalent obtained from a formal financial source by ith woman to twothird of mean of the total credit accessed by all women. Logit regression model was used to analyse the effect of participation in RUFIN programme on the financial inclusion of beneficiaries. The results showed that 34.62% and 9.23% of women beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, respectively were financially included. Participation in RUFIN increased the likelihood of financial inclusion by enhancing savings and access to credit among beneficiaries. The programme had significant effect on the financial inclusion of women beneficiaries. The study concludes that although financial inclusion is still low among women in Northern Nigeria, RUFIN programme had positive effect on the financial inclusion of its women beneficiaries. The study recommended the promotion of institutionalized development programmes that mirror the design and implementation approach of Rural Financial Institution Building Programme (RUFIN) by National and Sub-National Governments across the country as a means of replicating and scaling the benefits of the programme in terms of improved financial inclusion.

1. A. A. Olaleye, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

   Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

2. A. J. Jirgi, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

   Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

3. K. M. Baba, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

   Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

4. U. S. Mohammed, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

   Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. E-mail: ayoabiodunolaleye

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