PurposeThe study investigates the impact of financial inclusion, financial stability, bank nonperforming loans, inflation, macroeconomic management quality and the unemployment rate on economic growth in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe data are analyzed using the ordinary least squares regression, generalized linear model regression, robust least squares regression and the quantile regression methods. The sample period is from 2007 to 2022.FindingsFinancial inclusion, inflation rate and macroeconomic management quality are significant determinants of economic growth in Nigeria. Bank nonperforming loans, unemployment rate, international trade and climate change have an insignificant effect on economic growth in Nigeria. Also, financial inclusion, inflation rate, financial stability, macroeconomic management quality and the unemployment rate are significant determinants of economic growth in good economic years in Nigeria.Practical implicationsThe well-known catalysts of economic growth, such as financial inclusion and financial stability, are not positive catalysts of economic growth in Nigeria during good economic years. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers should find the right level of financial inclusion, financial stability and unemployment that stimulate economic growth in Nigeria.Originality/valueThis study examines some determinants of economic growth in Nigeria which have not been examined in the existing literature.