Women domestic workers in Nigeria play an essential role in sustaining households and the formal economy. Yet, they remain economically vulnerable and largely excluded from the benefits of digital financial services (DFS). Drawing on qualitative interviews with 40 women domestic workers in Southwest Nigeria, this study examines how access to DFS contributes to women’s economic empowerment. The findings show that ownership of a mobile phone and a transaction account enables women to save, send, and receive money, and access their income directly. These services strengthen three interlinked dimensions of women’s economic empowerment: financial agency, financial privacy, and financial security. The study highlights that DFS reduces women’s reliance on intermediaries, limits exploitation, and allows women to manage their resources independently. The results point to the need for policymakers, employers, financial institutions, and civil society actors to strengthen mechanisms that protect domestic workers’ financial rights and expand their access to appropriate digital financial tools.
Type: Policy Brief
Publisher: BIGD
Year: 2026
