LBS identifies broad community engagement -- Religious institutions key to 80% financial inclusion target

August 20, 2018
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5 min read

….Launches first customer segmentation incorporating psychometrics to include financially excluded Nigerians

One of the key findings of the Customer Segmentation study executed by the Lagos Business School is that broader community engagement, including with religious institutions and informal social groups, is essential to driving financial inclusion in Nigeria. Also identified is the need for unconventional approaches to on-boarding financially excluded persons such as the use of livestock ownership as collateral for financing, amongst others.

In a new report by the Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Financial Services initiative (SIDFS) of the institution which was launched alongside an art exhibition, six customer segments of financially excluded persons were identified. These are Vulnerable Believers, which form 12% of the population; Resilient Savers, which form 21% of the population; Dependent Individualists, 22% of the population; Digital Youth, 19% of the population; Confident Optimists, 14% of the population and lastly, Skeptical Cultivators which form 12% of the population.

Dr Olayinka David-West, Academic Director and Senior Fellow at the Lagos Business School who also leads the Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Financial Services initiative, says:

“One of the many challenges of Financial Service Providers (FSPs) is limited knowledge of customers, and as a result they often overlook high potential customers or misidentify their needs, and invest in products and channels that sometimes miss the mark.”

“The customer segments presented in this study provide insights into the behavioural and attitudinal traits of the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) population, currently estimated at 75% of Nigeria’s population (about 135 million persons), with a view to providing FSPs with correct information to create fit-for-use, segment-aligned digital financial products.” She adds.

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Stephen Ambore, Head, Digital Financial Services, Central Bank of Nigeria Dr Olayinka David-West, Academic Director and Senior Fellow, Lagos Business School Niall Saville, Associate Partner, Dalberg At the Customer Segmentation Framework Report Launch & Art Exhibition organised by the LBS Sustainable and Digital Financial Services initiative on Thursday, August 16 2018

“Nneka Eze, Partner and Nigeria Director, Dalberg, says:

“As part of our work to define a novel, globally applicable approach to segmentation, we conducted deep research in six countries across Africa and Asia. As with all the countries, the Nigeria report introduces a novel approach to segmentation that integrates contextual, behavioral, and psychometric variables that is useful in identifying patterns, highlighting nuances and differences between people that may not be clear from their contexts alone. Overlaying a segmentation using behavioral and psychometric approaches with FSPs’ existing segmentation strategies, we identified opportunities to drive market share— reaching people that a broad demographic approach to the market may not reach or energize.”

In addition, the report proffers principles on engaging with last mile customers based on motivation and adoption triggers uncovered. For instance, in dealing with Vulnerable Believers; people who are mostly lower middle-class to poor, religious, predominantly rural, with limited education, use financial services infrequently and struggle to pay bills; the report says the task is figuring out how FSPs, government or development organisations can leverage religious institutions as a channel for financial information and support and also how to develop agricultural programs that allow this group to take control of their financial lives.

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Stephen Ambore, Head, Digital Financial Services, Central Bank of Nigeria
Dr Olayinka David-West, Academic Director and Senior Fellow, Lagos Business School
Niall Saville, Associate Partner, Dalberg
Nneka Eze, Partner & Nigeria Director, Dalberg
At the Customer Segmentation Framework Report Launch & Art Exhibition organised by the LBS Sustainable and Digital Financial Services initiative on Thursday, August 16 2018

Moreso, for Skeptical Cultivators, who draw on more people than average for support during emergencies, yet face difficulty raising emergency funds and distrust people in their communities, the task is how to encourage Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to incentivise and facilitate greater phone ownership and usage by the segment, to improve access to services, provide daily liquidity, support financial planning and disciplined savings, build financial confidence and autonomy, and foster financial connections and access to emergency support.

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Segun Akerele, Board Chair, Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access EFInA
Dr Olayinka David-West, Academic Director and Senior Fellow, Lagos Business School
Niall Saville, Associate Partner, Dalberg
At the Customer Segmentation Framework Report Launch & Art Exhibition organised by the LBS Sustainable and Digital Financial Services initiative on Thursday, August 16 2018

Similarly, for Dependent Individualists, who have the weakest financial health of all Nigerians, face high income volatility and are less likely than others to save, plan for managing expenses, or cover household expenses, have average cash-based financial behavior, but often own land and livestock, the task is to explore how their high livestock ownership can be used as collateral for agricultural financing and how to develop or extend agent networks sustainably that provides better access to formal financial services for the segment.

The research study is the most representative of Nigerians with a sample size of 1,200 across the country. The study integrated three variable types into its segmentation approach to expand information about BoP consumers, strengthening typical approaches to segmentation.

The Sustainable and Digital Financial Services Initiative of the Lagos Business School says it will continue to carry out research to aid in driving financial inclusion as a key indicator for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report was launched in partnership with Dalberg and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Report: Customer Segmentation Framework Report –- http://sustainabledfs.lbs.edu.ng/FI-Resources/Nigeria_Customer_Segmentation_Framework.pdf

About SIDFS

Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Financial Services (SIDFS) is a university-based research and advocacy initiative with the goal of creating an inclusive ecosystem for financial services. Through focused research as well as active engagement with all stakeholders in the industry, we further the case for financial inclusion.

Founded in 2015 at Lagos Business School, SIDFS is the first research center for digital financial services, financial literacy and financial inclusion established at a Nigerian management school. Their modus operandi combines a pragmatic approach to responsible market development with an evidence-based advocacy platform to inform policy and influence key decision makers in the industry.

Please visit http://sustainabledfs.lbs.edu.ng/ for more information.

Media contact:

SIDFS: [email protected]    Twitter: @Sustainable

About Dalberg

The Dalberg Group works to build a more inclusive and sustainable world where all people, everywhere, can reach their fullest potential. Through its different businesses, Dalberg provides an innovative mix of services across a broad range of development topics. Since its inception in 2001, Dalberg has worked with its clients primarily in developing and emerging markets. Dalberg clients include a wide range of communities, governments, and companies. Dalberg has 19 offices globally including eight offices in Africa and one in Lagos, Nigeria. For more information, please visit www.dalberg.com.

Media contacts:

Dalberg: [email protected]

 Twitter: @DalbergTweet

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