Article Details

Digital financial inclusion is crucial for empowering women in rural Nigeria, particularly in underserved communities where it enables access to payments, savings, and credit via mobile technologies, fostering economic independence and reducing gender disparities amid post-COVID cashless policies. Despite national progress and the surge in cashless transactions, a significant research gap remains in examining age-specific experiences of women in rural settings. This paper investigates digital financial inclusion among Apiapum women across three age groups to identify disparities, challenges, and opportunities, using Apiapum as a case study reflective of broader rural Nigerian contexts. The paper employs a qualitative generational feminist narrative methodology. Primary data were analysed using synthesised responses from 10 women's representatives in the age groups 10-29 years, 30-59 years, and 60-70 years. Secondary data were drawn from broader Nigerian studies on women's fintech adoption, as well as articles and books. The paper is grounded in the Digital Agency Theory of Financial Inclusion, which examines how digital tools act as agents to delegate financial access, particularly in contexts of exclusion. Findings reveal uneven progress: youth exhibit emerging interest; working-age women actively use mobile platforms for business and remittances; and older women show minimal engagement due to low literacy, preferring cash despite policy pushes, with hindrances for all. The conclusion of the paper underscores the need for targeted interventions, including digital literacy training and improved rural connectivity, to bridge gaps and promote inclusive growth under Nigeria's National Financial Inclusion Strategy, ultimately enhancing Apiapum’s women's participation in the digital economy.

Apiapum women, Generational feminist narratives, Digital financial literacy, Digital agency theory,