Access Bank, Gates Foundation, and MSC collaborate to support 50,000 female CICO agents
Access Bank Plc has joined forces with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and MicroSave Consulting (MSC) to launch a major initiative aimed at empowering 50,000 female Cash-In and Cash-Out (CICO) agents across Nigeria. The new program, called *Scaling Female Agent Networks in Nigeria*, seeks to boost women’s participation in agency banking by equipping them with essential training, funding, and digital tools to better serve their local communities.
Spanning a period of three years, the initiative will prioritize rural and underserved areas, especially in Northern and Central Nigeria. The partnership was officially announced during a press briefing in Lagos, where stakeholders highlighted the importance of female agents in enhancing financial inclusion.
Akshat Pathak, Associate Partner at MSC, emphasized that agent networks are a cornerstone of financial inclusion, noting that female agents, in particular, empower other women by creating a more approachable environment for financial transactions and advice. He added that the program would also generate operational data on female agents to inform better policy-making and market strategies.
Robert Giles, Senior Retail Advisor at Access Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to sustainable banking practices and long-term community impact. He explained that agency banking has made financial services more accessible to Nigerians, particularly women, by allowing them to conduct transactions without visiting traditional bank branches.
Chizoba Iheme, Group Head of Agency Banking and Financial Inclusion at Access Bank, stated that the bank would offer both training and loans to support the agents. She said the goal is to empower the 50,000 women to handle more transactions and to collect gender-specific data to gain insights into their behaviors and needs.
Iheme also noted that Access Bank has been championing women’s financial empowerment since 2013, starting with its Beta Proposition. Today, women make up over 70% of its Beta Friends agent network.
The program will also tackle challenges like limited electricity in rural communities. To address this, the partners have teamed up with a reliable solar energy provider to ensure that agents in off-grid areas have the power they need to operate effectively.
The Gates Foundation, which is funding the initiative, will also provide strategic guidance and oversight to help ensure the project’s success and sustainability.
