Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA) is set to release the findings of the ninth Access to Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F) Survey at the official launch of the A2F 2026 Survey Report on September 16, 2026, in Abuja.
Conducted biennially since 2008, the A2F Survey remains one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive sources of demand-side data on financial inclusion, tracking how Nigerians use formal and informal financial services to meet daily needs, plan for emergencies, protect their future and cope with financial challenges.
The 2026 edition follows previous rounds conducted in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023, providing more than 17 years of longitudinal data.
The survey captures both financial and non-financial data and has served as a source of information for financial services and development sector stakeholders, policymakers and regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and National Pension Commission, in formulating policies and regulations.
Speaking on the significance of the survey, Chief Executive Officer of EFInA, Foyinsolami Akinjayeju, said, “Demand-side evidence at this scale is national economic infrastructure. Nine rounds have given Nigeria a continuous record of how households behave through reform, shock and recovery. This round goes further by examining what inclusion is delivering economically, and I expect regulators, providers and partners to hold their own targets against what it shows.”
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According to EFInA, the 2026 survey has evolved to reflect changes in the financial services market while expanding its relevance and value to stakeholders.
The latest edition strengthens the link between financial and economic inclusion, particularly in the areas of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture and informal workers.
It also introduces more robust tracking of financial health, fraud prevention, climate change and resilience, as well as trust in financial services.
For the second time, the survey provides state-level data reporting representativeness, allowing for more granular analysis that can support state-level policy design, resource allocation and programme targeting.
EFInA Research Lead, Dr Oluwatomi Eromosele, said the changes were introduced to address questions that previous editions could not fully answer.
“Previous rounds told us a great deal about who had access to financial services and what they were using. In 2026, we deliberately went further to understand whether that access is translating into greater resilience, economic participation and improved financial outcomes for Nigerians. We strengthened the Survey to examine not only what people use, but how well financial services are working for them, where vulnerability persists, and which groups and places are still being left behind. That gives policymakers and providers a much stronger evidence base for deciding what needs to change next,” she said.
EFInA said the survey had, over the years, evolved from an institutional initiative into a national resource supported by stakeholders across the financial and development sectors.
The 2026 survey and its dissemination are supported by the Gates Foundation, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SGP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), Moniepoint and Stanbic IBTC.
The National Launch will be held under the theme, “Access. Opportunity. Growth: Advancing Financial and Economic Inclusion for All Nigerians.”
The event will bring together senior government officials, regulators, development partners and other ecosystem stakeholders.
The programme will begin with a breakfast session featuring targeted breakout discussions on Climate and Agriculture, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Financial Resilience and Vulnerability.
This will be followed by the report launch, including a high-level presentation of the findings and unveiling of the A2F 2026 final report.
EFInA will also hold the A2F 2026 Industry Engagement for financial service providers, investors and industry associations on September 25, 2026, in Lagos.
The Lagos engagement will focus on market insights and consumer behaviour trends to help industry stakeholders identify opportunities to design better financial products and services.
EFInA said the survey findings would be useful to stakeholders involved in designing programmes, developing financial products and determining where support is needed to deepen the financial services market.
The organisation added that the A2F 2026 Survey would provide an evidence base for decisions on financial and economic inclusion over the next two years.
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