‘Financial inclusion requires grassroots trust’

The Divisional Head of Financial Inclusion at eTranzact International Plc, Olalekan Disu, has asserted that achieving true financial inclusion in Nigeria relies heavily on establishing deep grassroots networks and community confidence rather than just distributing financial products.

Disu made the disclosure following a large-scale financial inclusion drive executed through the company’s PocketMoni Business platform in Ogun State’s Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.

The ongoing initiative, executed in collaboration with the local Zonal Community Development Committee, has already seen the onboarding of over 1,000 agents and the deployment of thousands of PocketMoni terminals across underserved communities in the area.

Speaking on the strategic execution of the project, Disu explained that driving digital financial services deep into rural and semi-urban localities requires a deliberate focus on the human element.

He said, “Financial inclusion is not just about opening access to financial products, it is about creating opportunities and building trust within communities.

“By empowering local agents and deploying thousands of terminals, we are helping to stimulate economic activity, create livelihoods and make financial services more accessible to people at the grassroots.”

He added that the success recorded in the local government area reinforced the importance of direct community engagement in driving sustainable financial inclusion and supporting Nigeria’s transition to a more digitally enabled economy.

 The newly deployed network of agents and terminal touchpoints now enables Ogun residents to seamlessly execute daily transactions, including cash withdrawals, transfers and utility bill payments, within their immediate neighbourhoods.

 Echoing Disu’s position on the importance of trust, the Chairman of the Obafemi Owode Zonal CDC, Gboyega Adeleke, commended the initiative for tackling the long-distance travel hurdles previously faced by residents seeking basic banking services.

 “Before PocketMoni came, our people had to travel far for simple withdrawals and bill payments. Today, those services are available within our communities through people we know and trust,” Adeleke noted.

 “This is development that directly impacts lives, and we commend eTranzact for bringing these opportunities to the grassroots”, he added.

 Following the positive reception from residents and local stakeholders, eTranzact disclosed plans to replicate this community-led deployment model across other local government areas in the South-West region to bridge persistent financial access gaps.