“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr.
I had the pleasure of attending the brand relaunch of EFINA last week, and it was inspiring to see how far they (and by extension, Nigeria) have come in advancing financial inclusion. A few reflections stuck with me:
1. Becoming an Authority
There’s power in just starting and staying consistent. Over the last 15 years, EFINA has run the Access to Finance (A2F) survey, tracking financial inclusion across all 36 states. In a data-scarce environment, they built a key resource by simply showing up year after year. The survey has improved over time, but the real lesson? They started, kept at it, and now they’re the authority.
2. From Financial Inclusion to Economic Inclusion
Back in 2010, 46% of Nigerians were excluded from financial services; today, that’s 26%. Progress. But financial inclusion without economic inclusion is just form without substance. EFINA’s name change—Enhancing Financial Inclusion & Advancement—reflects this shift. Financial access matters, but access to economic opportunity is the real game-changer.
3. Understanding Economic Opportunity
Economic inclusion is really a function of economic opportunity. In recent research, we identified five critical types of access that matter to the average Nigerian:
- Access to capital – to start or grow a business.
- Access to skills – to expand opportunities.
- Access to jobs/markets – to earn income or scale a business.
- Access to economic infrastructure – power, digital connectivity, transport (especially in rural areas).
- Access to relationships – in Nigerian parlance, a helper—someone who opens doors.
While priorities shift depending on age, gender, or economic background, one access type stood out—relationships. It can unlock all the others, and unlike capital or infrastructure, it’s often within our control and can be found in a place of service.
From Waiting Tables to Writing Code
At dinner a few weeks ago, a friend and I met a waitress who was exceptional at her job—friendly, engaging, and service-oriented. We struck up a conversation and told her how much we appreciated her service and look forward to seeing her again soon. She mentioned, “Oh, I won’t be here much longer. This is just a stopgap while I save up to learn coding.”
Coding? She explained she was saving for a laptop and a trainer to get started. What she didn’t know was that my friend ran a coding upskilling program. The rest, as they say, is history. She accessed the opportunity she had been working toward—not by luck, but by being in the right place, showing up with excellence, and making a connection. Relationally, they did not move in the same social circles and would never have met under normal circumstances. But in her place of service, the connection was made.
A Few Questions to Reflect On:
- Which of these five access types do you think is most critical, and why?
- What can you do—on an individual level—to help create access for others?
- How can we structurally, intentionally increase ‘access to relationships’ for people across different social backgrounds?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Yours in possibilities,
TKO
P.S. We’re recruiting! If you’re passionate about UNLEASH and want to help take it to more young people, this opportunity might be for you. Please spread the word!