Literacy and Financial Inclusion Among Women Petty Traders in Ogun State

This study examined the relationship between literacy levels and financial inclusion among women petty traders in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Access to formal financial services is widely acknowledged as a catalyst for small business growth and poverty reduction; however, low literacy remains a significant structural barrier to financial inclusion for many Nigerian women in the informal economy. The study adopted a descriptive survey design involving 185 women petty traders selected from market clusters in three local government areas of Ogun State. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires and personal interviews. Findings indicated that literate traders were significantly more likely to hold bank accounts, access micro-credit facilities, maintain business records, and benefit from mobile money services compared to their non-literate counterparts. Non-literate women expressed distrust of formal banking systems, fear of exploitation, and difficulty understanding financial product terms as major deterrents. The study also found that traders who had completed at least one adult literacy cycle demonstrated stronger savings discipline and were better able to negotiate loan terms with microfinance institutions. Recommendations include collaborating with financial institutions to co-design simple, pictorial financial literacy modules for non-literate women, expanding mobile money agent networks in market communities, and offering group-based micro-savings programmes facilitated by adult education practitioners. Policy support for integrating financial education into adult literacy curricula is advocated at both state and federal levels. Keywords: literacy, financial inclusion, women traders, Ogun State, microfinance.