Determinants of Financial Inclusion Amongst Rural Enterprises a Case Study of Ebonyi State

By: E. Chukwudi Asiegbu, Precious Ohalete, Makuachukwu Ojide

Pages: 498–513, Volume: 3, Number: 1

Published by: AEFUNAI Journal of Economics, Finance and Development Studies, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, 2/1/2026, 2026

ISSN (Electronic): 2536-6742

DOI:

Determinants of Financial Inclusion Amongst Rural Enterprises a Case Study of Ebonyi State

Abstract:

This study examines the determinants of financial inclusion among rural enterprises in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, with a focus on the usage of mobile banking, agency banking/Point-of-Sale (POS), Automated Teller Machine (ATM)/debit cards, and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) platforms. Primary cross-sectional data were collected in 2025 from 169 rural enterprises across the three senatorial zones of Ebonyi state. The study employs descriptive statistics and ordered logistic regression techniques to analyse how educational attainment, age, gender, phone compatibility, and perceived security affect inclusion. Results indicate that education and digital literacy are the most significant factors driving the adoption of mobile and agency banking. The study highlights the potential of POS agents to bridge the gap in areas with limited bank branches and recommends enhanced security measures to build trust.

Keywords: Financial inclusion, Rural enterprises, Micro-credit, Entrepreneurship development