THE IMPACT OF MICRO FINANCE ON WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN EDO STATE USING LAPO AS A CASE STUDY

This study examines the impact of microfinance on women’s economic empowerment in Edo State, Nigeria, using the Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) as a case study. The research is motivated by the persistent financial exclusion and structural inequalities faced by women, particularly those operating within the informal sector. It investigates how access to microfinance services, including loans, savings schemes, and training programmes, influences key dimensions of empowerment such as income generation, financial independence, and decision-making capacity. Adopting a descriptive survey research design, the study utilises primary data collected from 180 female beneficiaries of LAPO, with 174 valid responses analysed. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including multiple regression analysis, were employed to assess the relationship between microfinance services and women’s economic empowerment. The findings reveal that access to microfinance services has a significant and positive effect on women’s economic empowerment. Specifically, savings services and loan access emerged as the strongest predictors, while training and capacity-building programmes also contributed meaningfully to improved outcomes. The results further indicate that participation in microfinance enhances women’s ability to generate income, strengthens their financial autonomy, and increases their involvement in economic decision-making. However, the study also acknowledges that empowerment is multifaceted and influenced by contextual factors such as social norms and household dynamics. The study concludes that microfinance, when effectively designed and implemented, serves as a critical tool for promoting women’s economic empowerment and inclusive development. It recommends that policymakers and microfinance institutions strengthen gender-responsive financial products, expand access to savings-led initiatives, and integrate capacity-building programmes to ensure sustainable empowerment outcomes.