Insurance Inclusion
Micro-insurance typically refers to insurance services offered primarily to clients with low income and limited access to mainstream insurance services and other means of effectively coping with risk[1]. Microinsurance in Nigeria is at a very early but growing phase. NAICOM issued the first set of micro-insurance licenses in 2019 to four operators.
The EFInA Access to Financial Services (A2F) in Nigeria 2020 survey highlighted that out of the 106 million adult population, only about 2.1 million have insurance, with 88% of adults not aware of micro-insurance. Compared to select countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria has the largest proportion of the uninsured adult population, with 104 million uninsured adults in 2020[2].
Pension Inclusion
According to the (A2F) 2020 Survey, increased uptake and usage of pensions are needed to achieve the NFIS targets and improve livelihoods for Nigerians. However, pension coverage remains low with 7% of the adult population with pensions (including micro-pensions).
In 2021, there are 9.5 million pension accounts with an exclusion rate of about 92% (102 million), which the formal sector is slow to address given the less than 500k new RSA registrations over the last decade.
10-year Trend in RSA Registration – Averaging 447,0005 PINs
Thus, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) introduced a pension plan in 2019 for the informal sector known as the Micro Pension Plan (MPP). The MPP is a hybrid of long-term savings and pensions, which guarantee financial security for individuals in the informal sector. The growth of MPP is essential to reduce vulnerability in old age and incapacitation. However, uptake is still very low with 89,327 micro pension accounts as of 31 December 2022[3].
Key Stakeholders and Their Expectations
There have been efforts to promote financial inclusion in Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as follows:
National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS): The CBN developed the NFIS to provide a roadmap for improving financial inclusion. It sets targets for increasing access to financial services, promoting digital financial services, and enhancing financial literacy.
Agent Banking: The CBN introduced agent banking regulations, allowing financial institutions to use agents to provide basic financial services in underserved areas.
Mobile Money and Digital Payments: The rise of mobile phone usage in Nigeria has facilitated the growth of mobile money services and digital payment platforms, making financial services more accessible.
Biometric Identification (BVN): The CBN introduced the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system, which links individuals to their bank accounts and helps improve identity verification.
Microfinance Institutions and NGOs: Microfinance institutions and non-governmental organizations play a role in providing financial services to underserved communities.
Financial Literacy Programs: Various organizations and government agencies have initiated programs to enhance financial literacy and educate citizens about the benefits and proper use of financial services.
Collaboration with Technology Companies: Partnerships between financial institutions and technology companies have led to the development of innovative solutions, such as mobile banking apps and digital wallets.
Regulatory Reforms: The CBN has introduced regulatory reforms to create an enabling environment for financial inclusion, such as reviewing fees and charges for certain transactions.
Challenges to Financial Inclusion in Nigeria:
Finding new ways of reaching out to this market is a major challenge for service providers. As such, new ways of thinking and innovation in product and service offerings are needed to capture this market.
This will help mitigate some of the key factors hindering financial inclusion in Nigeria identified below:
The efforts to promote financial inclusion in Nigeria have yielded positive outcomes, including increased access to savings, credit, insurance, and payment services. Mobile money and digital banking have played a significant role in bridging the gap, allowing individuals in remote areas to conduct financial transactions conveniently.
However, challenges still persist, and ongoing efforts are required to ensure that financial inclusion benefits all segments of the population.
Source: [1] https://microinsurancenetwork.org/microinsurance/key-concepts. [2] EFInA Access of Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F) 2008 to 2020 Survey- Insurance and financial inclusion Report
[3] https://www.pencom.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/December-2022-Monthly-Summary-Upload.pdf
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