Financial Technology (Fintech) as a Driver for Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

The human race has been confronting the issue of poverty which is threatening its continued existence for a long time. Poor access to finance can lead to poverty; this breeds health issues, lack of access to social and recreational facilities, social delinquencies, reduced living standard, malnutrition and economic difficulties. The goal of defeating poverty in its various ramifications remains a cardinal concern for policy formulators in the Nigerian state and international bodies such as the World Bank and United Nations. Following the thriving emergence of financial technology (fintech) in Nigeria, there exists a dearth in academic research to examine how fintech can be a driver in the reduction of poverty. This study examined the impact of financial technology on poverty reduction in Nigeria. Data on poverty rate, financial technology, mortality rate, literacy rate, and gross domestic products were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin for the period of 1991–2021. This study employed the multiple linear regression estimation technique to analyze collected data as it examines a cross-section of major key independent variables across a time series dataset, on the premise of a common effect model. Data analyzed indicates a negative and significant nexus between poverty rate and financial technology innovation. The result also suggests that literacy rate and poverty rate have a negative and insignificant relationship. The poverty rate was also found to be positively and insignificantly related to mortality rate and gross domestic products respectively. The study findings have several significant policy implications. Firstly, infrastructures that support internet and mobile telephony should be expanded by providing incentives for investment since technology is the backbone of the operations of fintech. Secondly, education on fintech, information communication technology, and finance should be increased to fill the gap among citizens who are not technologically inclined—especially in rural areas—to increase the use of fintech. Lastly, there should be further regulatory interventions through reforms to remove the barriers to credit.