$1trn economy target: Digitvant CEO urges closure of gender gap in finance

Florence Ogunyamoju, managing director, Digitvant Microfinance Bank has emphasised the need to close gender gap in finance to achieve the $1 trillion economy target of the present administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ogunnyamoju disclosed this at the Digitvant Elev8her 2026 hosted in Lagos Nigeria in commemoration of the International Women’s Day themed “Hustle to Structure”

“The present administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is targeting a trillion dollar economy by 2030 and women inclusion is very important in achieving that target.

Financially included women do not just survive, they build, invest and they inspire. One woman with a bank account can mean healthier children, stronger local economy and more reputable community tomorrow making up the theme for today which is Hustle to Structure,” She said.

She urged women to have a cost structure and position their finances to build a stronger financial system and become employers of labour.

The managing director however outlined poor access to loan, land ownership as a big barrier to women financial empowerment citing some part of the rural areas where women are denied access to land ownership while majority depends on subsistence farming for survival.

“There are lots of barriers that need to be addressed and many policies needed to be put in place. Some practices that don’t allow women freedom. A lot of policies that support women need to be granted and that’s what we are aiming for. today we are giving out loans to a lot of women without collateral and that is one of the ways we are supporting women today.”

Damilola Kolawol, head, Audit and Compliance at Digitvant Microfinance bank during her speech tasks women to leverage book keeping records in ascertaining profit and loss which she described as an important tool to financial growth and freedom.

“This will help you to know if you’re making profit and loss and manage your spending. This is also the combination of your profit and balance sheet. Women in business need to be taking proper records.

“It also supports business decision making and to know when to expand the business. The book of account will also serve as your tax evidence and evaluate tax obligations to know the exact amount to be paid,” Kolawole said.

According to her, property books of account will bring an answer to many questions and aid decision making as a business owner to know how daily business activity is carried out.

Kofoworola Disu, enterprise risk management expert at Digitvant who spoke on credit barriers emphasised the need for risk management in business to build a good financial structure.

“Major barriers to credit are informal hustle which is the lack of enterprise risk management in businesses. A lot of people are doing business but don’t put the right structure in place for banks who want to trade with them. There is no cash flow or requirements that can speak for their business. The banks want to be the bridge between you and your business and not just to give loans, helping you grow from small to a thriving business,” Disu said.