Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for greater financial inclusion for women, particularly traders and small-scale entrepreneurs, stressing that many women who drive local economies remain excluded from formal financial systems.
Speaking at the 2026 Oxford Africa Conference at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom on Saturday, May 16, the Vice President said women have historically played vital economic roles across African societies but continue to face barriers in accessing credit and financial support.
According to Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, market women are resilient, productive and highly informed about economic trends, yet many remain constrained by financial systems that assess creditworthiness primarily through collateral.
“Many women have long been visible in our markets, but strangely invisible on our balance sheets. Market women are resilient, productive, business-minded and often highly informed about the direction of their countries. Yet, many of them remain constrained by systems that measure creditworthiness primarily through collateral. Of which these women do not have.
“Though they do not lack discipline or commercial instincts. The scale-up at which they operate is often considered too informal, risky or small for traditional banking systems to engage,” she said.
The Vice President explained that many women operating within the informal sector are not seeking large commercial loans but rather modest financial support at critical moments to sustain trade in foodstuffs, household goods, agricultural produce and other small-scale economic activities.
“In practice, many women are not seeking large commercial loans. They require relatively modest capital at the right moment to begin trading in foodstuffs, household goods, agricultural produce, and other forms of small-scale commerce that sustain households and circulate income within local economies. Yet even these small sums remain out of reach. The Women’s Development Bank is intended to help address this problem,” she added.
The Oxford Africa Conference is being held from May 16 to 17, 2026, at the Andrew Wiles Building of the University of Oxford.
Now in its 16th edition, the annual event has become one of the university’s flagship Africa-focused forums, attracting participants from academia, policymaking, business and the development sector.
This year’s conference is themed “Anchoring Africa: Grounded Leadership in the Age of Disruption.” Discussions are centred on how African leadership and institutions can respond to global challenges including economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, climate change and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The two-day programme features keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside chats, networking sessions and policy dialogues aimed at generating practical Africa-centred solutions.
The conference is organised by the Oxford University Africa Society, a student-led platform that brings together policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs and global leaders to discuss Africa’s development and future.
