Exploratory analysis of local geographies of need and the proximity of microfinance service providers in Nigeria

The significance of microfinance in driving important aspects of the Nigerian Vision 20-2020 and other national policy programs like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be over-emphasized. The Vision 20-2020 seeks to position Nigeria in the league of world’s top 20 economies by the year 2020. The alleviation of poverty remains pivotal if this dream is to be achieved. Microfinance is therefore considered a veritable tool for mitigating the problems of poverty particularly amongst the rural poor, for stimulating economic growth, supporting human development and empowering women. This study illustrates the extent to which spatial analysis and geodemographic modeling may be of benefit for expounding real financial-related issues affecting the citizenry at localized spatial scales. Results show that local level disparities exist in the supply of microfinance for different community types