Bauchi agency launches training to boost financial data gathering for VSLAs
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State Agency for Sustainable Microfinance, with technical support from CARE Nigeria, has kicked off a three-day capacity-building workshop on data gathering for Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in the state.
The workshop aims to equip Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating within Bauchi State with the skills to use the Savings Groups Information Exchange (SAVIX) system a tool for collecting accurate, standardized data on VSLAs.
Declaring the workshop open at Hazibal Hotel Conference Hall in Bauchi on Monday, the Director General of the Agency, Alhaji Nura Muhammad Danmadami, described SAVIX as a “robust platform for tracking and managing the performance and growth of VSLAs across the state.”
He urged participants to actively engage in the training and ensure the knowledge is cascaded to field officers and village agents, helping to achieve grassroots-level data accuracy and financial inclusion.
Citing a 2019 survey by Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), Danmadami noted that 61% of adults in Bauchi State still lack access to formal financial services an issue the state government seeks to address through the Microfinance for Inclusion (MIFIN) Programme.
“In response to this challenge, His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, approved the MIFIN Programme, which aims to extend financial services to underserved communities,” Danmadami said.
“This led to the launch of a non-interest revolving microcredit loan scheme, through which over 70 VSLAs have accessed funding. More than 5,000 individuals have benefitted, with total disbursements reaching N25 million through seven Microfinance Institutions.”
He also acknowledged the partnership with CARE Nigeria, which provided a $50,000 grant to support the deployment of the SAVIX system in the state, helping to align the Agency’s operations with international standards.
“This training marks a vital step in building a stronger foundation for grassroots financial inclusion. The data gathered over the next two weeks will guide informed decision-making and future interventions,” Danmadami added.
During a presentation on the principles of the SAVIX system, Mr. Raphael Joshua, Acting Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator at CARE Nigeria, explained that the SAVIX platform enables the collection and analysis of financial data from savings and loans groups worldwide.
He emphasized that the system promotes transparency, accountability, better project planning, and empowers stakeholders including NGOs, donors, and governments to make evidence-based decisions.
The training also features hands-on simulation exercises and expert presentations, ensuring participants gain both theoretical and practical experience in managing the new data system.
