This study evaluates the relevance of inclusive financial access in moderating the effect of income inequality on economic growth in 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 1995 to 2017. The findings using the Generalised Method of Moments (sys-GMM) technique show that inclusive financial access contributes to reducing inequality in the short run, contrary to the Kuznets curve. The result reveals a negative effect of financial access on the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. There is a positive net effect of inclusive financial access in moderating the impact of income inequality on economic growth. Given the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Targets in the sub-region, policymakers and other stakeholders of the economy must design policies and programmes that would enhance access to financial services as an essential mechanism to reduce income disparity and enhance sustainable economic growth.

This paper used the Johansen Cointegration test and system Generalised Method of Moments (sysGMM) to examine the dynamic relations between external debt and economic growth in 43 African countries over the period 2001–2018. The study used data from World Development Indicators (WDI) as published by the World Bank and the World Economic Outlook database as provided by the International Monetary Finance (IMF). The study provides an understanding of how the importance of external debt could be short-lived due to its misapplication. The result reveals evidence to support a long-run equilibrium relationship between external debt and economic growth in Africa. The result demonstrates that beyond a specific capacity, the short-run converges to equilibrium in the long-run and external debt would start to have a deteriorating impact on economic growth in Africa. The findings of this study reinforce the need for policymakers to ensure proper application of external debt on economic activities that would lead to sustained long-term economic performance. Moreover, the government and development partners must put in place a monitoring mechanism to ensure the efficient use of borrowed funds.

The issue of achieving and sustaining a nation’s economic growth is an issue that is of concern to many nations of the world, especially the sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations. This was in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 of Economic Growth. This study, therefore, examines how monetary policy tools can help the SSA governments achieve the SDG 8 goal and also sustain it. Relevant secondary data on sustained economic growth (GDPPC) (dependent variable) and interest rate, exchange rate, money supply, and inflation rate (independent variable) were gathered from the annual report of the Central Banks of the 48 SSA nations. The panel data year covers the period from 2016 to 2022. The unit root test confirms the variables to have a level integration order. The Hausman test suggests the use of fixed effect regression. The fixed effect regression shows that for the 48 SSA nations, interest rate, inflation rate, and money supply were positively significant in impacting GDPPC while exchange rate was negatively significant in impacting GDPPC. The study, therefore, recommends that import promotion, for example, should be avoided because it raises the exchange rate and lowers the value of currencies of the SSA nations.

This study evaluated Artificial Intelligence Applications and Financial Inclusion Nexus in Nigeria. Financial institutions have always had the problem of meeting the financial needs of the low-income group in society, though, they have done their best to meet their needs, their effort have not yielded good results. Getting individuals and businesses into the formal financial net has been a problem. The present SDGs as constituted rest more on inclusiveness, especially financial inclusion. The SDGs comprise an ambitious 17 goals. While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) do not explicitly address financial inclusion, increased access to financial services is a crucial facilitator for achieving many goals. The financial institutions and products are not suited for the low-income group in society, in addition, rural dwellers do not have access to financial institutions and products. The study used survey instruments and interviews for data collection. That is. using the mixed research method with data from three hundred and eighty-four respondents selected from rural communities, financial institutions, and universities in South-West Nigeria. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, regression analysis, structural equation model (SEM), and narrative technique. The results indicate that AI applications have significantly impacted financial inclusion in South-West Nigeria. Based on this, the study recommended that financial institutions invest in building AI-enabled platforms in local languages that will respond to customers’ needs.