PalmPay Empowers 1,500 Women Traders In Kaduna

In a bid to tackle financial exclusion and lift small-scale women entrepreneurs, PalmPay Nigeria has empowered 1,500 women in Kaduna with access to vital financial tools, including free health insurance, debit cards and business support services.

Speaking during the empowerment and financial literacy launch in Kaduna on Thursday, the Head of Communication and Marketing at PalmPay Nigeria, Femi Hanson said the programme was part of a broader effort by the fintech firm to empower women traders.

“We are here in Kaduna today to introduce a segment of our series programme called ‘Passing the Baton’, empowering 1,500 women with financial literacy skills.

, one month of free insurance on the PalmPay app, a free debit card, and other tools required to help boost their businesses,” Hanson said.

“We want them to get access to free healthcare for that one month and after one month they can pay N500 for access to free healthcare. We are partnering with AXA Mansard one of the leading insurance company and is on the Palmpay app. We also expect them to have access to regular financial amenities that we have provided”.

According to him, PalmPay’s internal research revealed persistent gaps in financial literacy and inclusion, which informed the decision to bring the initiative directly to market women, many of whom remain unbanked or underbanked.

“Our findings show that while people are willing to adopt platforms like ours, there is still a high level of financial illiteracy. That is why we are here to create awareness and equip them with with financial skills”.

He added that, Beyond healthcare, the beneficiaries will also have access to free money transfers and support in navigating the digital finance space, he said.

Explaining the focus on women, Hanson said, “Women are the economic powerhouses. Once you support a woman, the benefits extend to the family and, by extension, the youth. That’s why we are starting with women, and from there we will expand to other groups, including the youth segment.”

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries at the event expressed gratitude to the company for the empowerment initiatives, adding that the empowerment would boost their business activities.

Some of the beneficiaries, Josephine Igwe, and Daharatu Abdulkadir commended the Palmpay for supporting women in tough economic times.