Fintech Adoption and Financial Inclusion Among Micro-Entrepreneurs in Kaduna State

This study examines the adoption of financial technology solutions and its relationship to financial inclusion among micro-entrepreneurs in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Fintech platforms including mobile money services, digital payment applications, and online savings products have expanded rapidly across Nigeria, offering potential pathways to financial inclusion for entrepreneurs historically excluded from formal banking. Kaduna State presents a mixed urban-rural context in which fintech adoption varies significantly by location and demographic profile. The study employs a descriptive survey design, administering a structured questionnaire to 220 micro-entrepreneurs in Kaduna Metropolis, Zaria, and Kafanchan, stratified to include both urban and peri-urban locations. The questionnaire assessed fintech platform awareness, adoption status, frequency of use, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis. Findings indicate that mobile banking applications and USSD-based payment services have achieved moderate adoption among urban micro-entrepreneurs, with 52 percent of the Kaduna Metropolis sample reporting active use. Rural and peri-urban adoption rates are significantly lower. The most commonly adopted services are digital payment receiving from customers, USSD-based fund transfers, and mobile savings. Mobile lending platforms are used by 23 percent of adopters but at relatively low loan sizes. Non-adoption is primarily driven by concerns about internet security, inadequate digital literacy, and absence of reliable mobile data coverage in peri-urban locations. Recommendations include a Kaduna State fintech literacy programme targeting micro-entrepreneur associations in under-served areas. Keywords: fintech, financial inclusion, micro-entrepreneurs, Kaduna State, mobile money.