PalmPay Empowers Over 2,000 Women Traders in Kano, Kaduna with Digital Banking Skills

PalmPay has empowered more than 2,000 women entrepreneurs across Kano and Kaduna states through a grassroots financial literacy and digital banking initiative targeting market traders.

The programme was implemented in Sabon Gari Market in Kano and Central Market in Kaduna, equipping women with practical financial management skills and digital banking tools to improve business operations and expand access to formal financial services.

Women’s financial inclusion remains a major challenge in Nigeria. According to the EFInA Access to Financial Services 2023 survey, 30 per cent of adult women remain excluded from formal and informal financial services, compared to 21 per cent of men.

To address this, PalmPay took its campaign to some of Northern Nigeria’s busiest trading centres, where thousands of women sell textiles, spices, grains, and household items. The initiative focused on teaching traders how to separate personal expenses from business income, calculate profit margins, budget for inventory, and manage cash flow.

Participants were introduced to digital payment solutions, including PalmPay POS terminals and instant payment notification systems, to improve transaction transparency and financial control.

The initiative received the endorsement of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, boosting awareness and acceptance of the programme in the region.

PalmPay noted that the intervention is already transforming business management for many women, helping them transition from informal cash handling to more secure digital banking processes. The company added that empowering women entrepreneurs has broader economic benefits, as many female traders serve as key providers for their households and communities.