Abstract
This study investigates the effect of financial widening activities on self-employment opportunities in Nigeria. Using World Bank Financial Inclusion Survey 2014—the Global Fundex data to identify and examine the effect financial widening activities such as mobile money, banking services, e-payment options, savings, access to financial institutions outlets among others on self-employment opportunities created by the agricultural sector. The study used logit estimation model for analysis. The study demonstrates how mobile money, banking services, e-payment options, savings, access to financial institutions outlets and services among others, have significantly strengthened agricultural transactions, enhanced self-employment opportunity, and poverty reduction. The study recommends that policies which widen the financial services (financial inclusion) be strengthened to ensure that more financial widening activities and inclusion are extended to rural areas in order to accommodate more financial users across different income groups especially in the face of global recession and social exclusion already created by the overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic.
