SOZECOM: Leveraging the Synergy between the Existing Structure and Opportunities in Digital Finance

Sokoto State having a land mass of 25,973 km² and located in Northwestern Nigeria has a population of about 5.7 million people. Over 80% of the people are farmers living predominantly in the rural areas. As a consequence of this they are both financially and digitally excluded from participating in the formal and increasingly digitalized global economy. Sokoto State Zakat and Waqf (Endowment) Commission (SOZECOM) Nigeria aims to drastically reduce the widespread prevalence of poverty in the state. SOZECOM utilizes an extensive network of volunteers covering all the districts in the state. Almost 50% of the rural population own or have access to mobile phones. By using this network and the access to mobile phones, SOZECOM aims to bridge the gap in financial services between the mostly rural areas and the urban centre through the development of a framework involving the use of volunteers as agents. This will greatly assist in the collection, management and distribution of both zakat and waqf funds. This paper presents the activities undertaken, for greater rural financial inclusivity and participation in the digital economy, the opportunity and constraints.