Empirical Assessment of Islamic Microfinance Models and Women’s Economic Empowerment in North East Nigeria

This study empirically assesses the impact of Islamic microfinance models on women's economic empowerment in selected communities in North East Nigeria, specifically in Adamawa, Gombe, and Borno states. The intersection of Islamic finance principles with women's economic agency presents a significant research gap, particularly in a region where conventional microfinance has had limited uptake among Muslim women due to concerns about Riba. The study employs a mixed-methods design, drawing on household surveys administered to 360 women beneficiaries of Islamic microfinance products, supplemented by 20 in-depth interviews with programme officers and women entrepreneurs. Economic empowerment is measured across financial access, business revenue, household decision-making authority, and self-efficacy dimensions. Data are analysed using difference-in-differences estimation and thematic analysis. Findings demonstrate statistically significant improvements in business revenue and household financial decision-making authority among participants compared to a control group, though gains are concentrated among women with prior entrepreneurial experience. Barriers including limited financial literacy, household-level constraints on women's enterprise, and product rigidity are identified. The study recommends the redesign of Islamic microfinance products to incorporate financial literacy training, flexible repayment scheduling, and household-level male engagement strategies. Keywords: Islamic microfinance, women's empowerment, North East Nigeria, Sharia-compliant finance, gender.