NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

When Lagos imposed a lockdown last year, Nigerian civil servant Ruth Oladimeji saw a way to earn extra money. With people unable to visit banks due to the coronavirus pandemic, she became an agent providing local banking services.

Oladimeji signed up with Moniepoint, a mobile money platform on whose behalf she helps customers with services such as opening accounts and withdrawing cash.

“It has increased my standard of living. It has helped me be able to support people financially,” said the mother-of-two, adding that she previously struggled to pay school fees and support elderly relatives on her civil service salary.

Photo courtesy of Simon Berry.