The EFInA Podcast

In Part 2 of our Designing Inclusive Financial Solutions series, Host, Immanuel Umukoro (Policy and DFS Advocacy Manager, EFInA) continues the conversation with Dotun Adekunle (COO/CTO, OPay Digital Services Limited). They move beyond pricing and product tweaks to tackle the real backbone of adoption: Trust. Whether you're a fintech founder, product manager, policymaker, or ecosystem builder, this conversation will challenge how you think about infrastructure, reliability, and human touch in financial systems.

In this episode of the EFInA Podcast, host Immanuel Umukoro (Policy and DFS Manager, EFInA) sits with Dotun Adekunle (COO/CTO, OPay Digital Services Limited), to dive into the key factors that drive customer loyalty and engagement in financial products. Join us as we explore how thoughtful pricing strategies and small product tweaks can create lasting "stickiness" for customers in underserved markets. From affordability models to tailoring features for real-world needs, we break down the strategies that ensure financial solutions not only attract but also retain a loyal customer base. Learn how inclusivity in design can drive long-term growth in the financial sector.

How does a simple payment model unlock financial dignity, expand economic opportunity, and transform underserved communities? In this episode of the EFInA Podcast, host Immanuel Umukoro, Policy and DFS Manager, EFInA, sits with Kolawole Osinowo, CEO, Izili Group, to unpack the powerful intersection between energy access and financial inclusion, exploring how the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model is reshaping the future of clean energy adoption across Africa and emerging markets. This is an episode you can’t afford to miss. Tune in and discover how energy access can be the gateway to true economic equity.

As Nigeria deepens its push for financial inclusion, POS terminals and agent banking have become critical lifelines for last-mile communities. But with rising transaction and operational costs, fraud risks, liquidity struggles, poor connectivity and frequent service downtimes, can we collectively unlock broader financial access, resilience and trust? In this episode of The EFInA Podcast, host Immanuel Umukoro (Policy and DFS Advocacy Manager, EFInA) sits with Mr. Fego Okiomah, Country Manager at Newland NPT, to unpack the evolving realities of Nigeria’s agent banking ecosystem. From the CBN’s new terminal geo-tagging policy to emerging opportunities for innovation, regulation, and consumer trust, this conversation explores where the silver linings really lie.

Open Banking is here, but what does it really mean for everyday Nigerians? In this episode, we sit with Mr. Adedeji Olowe, Trustee of Open Banking Nigeria, to demystify the concept. We explore how secure data sharing can unlock safer, more personalised financial services, foster transparency, and drive financial inclusion for millions who remain underserved. With Nigeria leading the way as the first African country to establish a regulatory framework for open banking, this conversation sheds light on its transformative potential and why it matters for your financial future.

In Nigeria’s rapidly evolving financial services landscape, millions of consumers remain at risk—especially the invisible victims and the most vulnerable groups who often fall through the cracks of protection. From unfair charges to predatory practices and digital exclusion, their voices are rarely heard, yet they bear the brunt of systemic gaps. In this episode of the EFInA Podcast, we sit down with Sola Salako-Ajulo, President of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), to unpack the urgent question: What must regulators do to safeguard the most vulnerable in our financial ecosystem? Building on insights from the recent webinar, this conversation explores the ecosystem’s expectations of regulators, the realities of consumer protection, and the pathways to building a financial system where fairness, trust, and inclusion are non-negotiable.

In Part 1 of our two-part episode on Credit Literacy, Personal Finance, and Financial Health, we navigated the nuances of credit and its impact on financial well-being. Building on those insights, this episode (Part 2) dives into understanding and managing your 'credit appetite' – how to thoughtfully approach credit use, balance financial opportunities with risks, and cultivate healthy credit habits for long-term financial stability.

In Nigeria, rising access to digital credit, informal lending, and consumer finance has not been matched by adequate credit education. At the same time, financial stress—due to poor saving habits, impulse spending, and income unpredictability—has weakened financial health among millions. This special episode explores the intersection of credit use, financial behaviour, and wellness with Mr Jerry Osagie, SME and personal finance expert By engaging both demand and supply-side perspectives, it aims to inform and inspire practical action for building a more financially resilient society.

In Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), women continue to face significant barriers to financial inclusion. Despite contributing significantly to household welfare and local economies, particularly through micro and small businesses, women often lack access to credit, savings tools, insurance, and digital financial services. In this episode, we dive deep into women micro-entrepreneurs access to and usage of appropriate financial solutions through ‘Gender-Intentional Product Design’— what it is, why it matters, and how it can be the game-changer for millions of women micro-entrepreneurs in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa with Ms. Olajumoke Daramola, Specialist, Advisory Services, Africa at Women's World Banking. We share insights on issues and opportunities around pro-poor product innovations, exploring how gender-responsive financial products/solutions can empower women micro-entrepreneurs through expanded access to and usage of appropriate financial solutions that drive inclusive and enterprise growth.

In this episode, we explore how gender-responsive financial products/solutions can empower women, strengthen households, and drive inclusive growth with Mustapha Otaru (Chief Product Officer, Sterling Bank). The conversation highlights barriers women face in accessing financial services, best practices in designing for their unique needs, and the broader socio-economic benefits of women’s financial empowerment through gender-responsive product innovation.