Analysis of Financial Inclusion Data Among Rural Households in Kebbi State

Financial inclusion remains uneven across Nigeria, with rural northern communities showing persistently low access to formal financial services. This study analysed financial inclusion indicators among rural households in Argungu, Bagudo, and Bunza Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Data were collected through a structured household survey of 600 respondents, collecting information on account ownership, mobile money use, savings behaviour, credit access, insurance coverage, and awareness of formal financial products. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were applied to identify inclusion determinants. Results showed that account ownership was 28.4 percent, mobile money usage was 19.7 percent, and insurance coverage was below 4 percent. Logistic regression identified mobile phone ownership, literacy level, and proximity to bank branches as the strongest positive predictors of formal account ownership. Distance to the nearest financial access point above 10 kilometres reduced account ownership odds by 67 percent. Female respondents showed 41 percent lower odds of mobile money account ownership than males after controlling for education and income. Agricultural households demonstrated the highest unmet demand for crop insurance. The study provides evidence for the specific barriers limiting financial inclusion in Kebbi State's rural areas. Recommendations include deploying mobile money agent networks in underserved LGAs, launching gender-sensitive financial literacy campaigns, and integrating microinsurance products into existing agricultural extension services.

Keywords: financial inclusion, rural households, Kebbi State, logistic regression, mobile money