THE IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE BANK IN GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE BUSINESS IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED BUSINESS IN OWERRI URBAN)
ABSTRACT
This study discusses the impact of Microfinance Institution (Microfinance bank) on the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (Small and medium scale business) in the Owerri Urban. The study examined the detailed profile of Small and medium scale business in the Owerri Urban of Nigeria, the contribution of Microfinance bank to entrepreneurial growth, the challenges encountered by Small and medium scale business in accessing credit and the rate of credit utilization by Small and medium scale business. An analysis of the profile of Small and medium scale business shows that most Small and medium scale business area their Micro stages since they employ less than six people and the sector is considerably dominated by the commerce sub-sector. There search also indicates that Microfinance bank have had a positive effect on the growth of Small and medium scale business. Some of the critical contributions of Microfinance bank include; greater access to credit, savings enhancement and provision of business, financial and managerial training. Irrespective of the contributions of Microfinance bank to the development of Small and medium scale business, there are challenges that affect the operations of both Small and medium scale business and Microfinance bank. The major challenge faced by Small and medium scale business is the cumber some process associated with
Accessing credit of which collateral security and high interest or setback.On the other hand, Microfinance bank face some challenges relating to credit misappropriation and non- disclosure of the relevant facts of the business operations of Small and medium scale business. The final analysis of their search clearly reveals that Microfinance bank have a positive effect on the growth of Small and medium scale business. In order to enhance a sustained and accelerated growth in the operations of Small and medium scale business, credits should be client- oriented and not product-oriented. Proper and extensive monitoring activities should be provided for clients who are granted loans.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Declaration……………………………………………………………………………………………… ii
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………. iii
Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………………. iv
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………… v
Table of Content………………………………………………………………………………………. vi
Background of the study…………………………………………………………………………. 1
Statement of the problem…………………………………………………………………………. 2
Objectives for the study…………………………………………………………………………… 3
Research questions…………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Significance of the study………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Scope of the study…………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Limitation of the study……………………………………………………………………………. 4
Organization of work………………………………………………………………………………. 5
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
2.1 Theoretical Review……………………………………………………………………………… 6
2.2 The Concepts (Small and medium scale business) in Nigeria………………………. 7
2.3 Concept of Microfinance…………………………………………………………………….. 10
2.4 Definitions supporting Microfinance……………………………………………………… 12
2.5 Forms of Microfinance providers………………………………………………………….. 14
2.6 Economic development………………………………………………………………………… 15
2.7 Major challenges facing Small and medium scale business…………………………. 17
2.8 Prospects of Small and medium scale business and Microfinance bank in Nigeria 22
Refined Procedures……………………………………………………………………………………. 23
CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
3.2 Research Design…………………………………………………………………………………. 25
3.3 Population and sampling………………………………………………………………………. 26
3.3.1 Sampling techniques………………………………………………………………………… 27
3.4 Brief profile of Deson Microfinance and GIFS Microfinance……………………… 27
3.5 Type of Data collection tools……………………………………………………………….. 28
3.6 Data analysis……………………………………………………………………………………… 28
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS, DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
4.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………… 29
4.2 Response Received……………………………………………………………………………… 29
4.3 Background of selected Small and medium scale business………………………… 30
4.3.1 Years of operation…………………………………………………………………. 30
4.3.2 Purposes of Establishing business……………………………………………. 30
4.3.2 Small and medium scale business and Employment…………………….. 31
4.3.4 Sources of Business capital……………………………………………………… 32
4.3.5 Products offered by Microfinance bank and their effects on Small and medium scale business…………………………………………………………………………………. 32
4.4 The Impact of Micro-Credit on Small and medium scale business Performance 33
4.5 Volume of Loan Granted……………………………………………………………………… 34
4.5.1 The level of satisfaction of Small and medium scale business…………………. 36
4.6 Challenges Small and medium scale business face in accessing credit…………. 37
4.7 Types of credits requested by Small and medium scale business……………….. 38
4.8 Frequency of credit requested by Small and medium scale business……………. 38
4.9 Credit misappropriation………………………………………………………………………. 39
4.10 Major contributions of Deson and GIFS Microfinance…………………………….. 40
4.11 The Contribution of MICROFINANCE BANK in the Growth of Small and medium scale business………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
4.12 Prerequisites for accessing MICROFINANCE BANK loans……………………. 42
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary………………………………………………………………………….45
5.2 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………. 46
5.3 Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………….. 47
References………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49
Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 50
Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is said to have a relatively long history of government initiatives to promote and finance, small and medium enterprises (Small and medium scale business). The contributions these Small and medium scale business make to the economic development and growth of Nigeria are substantial because so many people are employed by these enterprises. This is so because it is accepted worldwide that the development and growth of Small and medium scale business can play an important role in turning the growing unemployment situation around. In the light of foregoing, policies and programmes that would support the development of Small and medium scale business are formulated and implemented to better the lives of the citizenry. According to Mbuta and Nkandela (1998), the importance of Small and medium scale business in contributing to job creation and output growth is now widely accepted in both developed and developing countries. Of particular interest is the process of expansion of these enterprises from micro or small into medium size, as it is when they become medium-sized that growth- oriented Small and medium scale business make their most tangible contribution to economic growth and job creation. Dynamic medium-sized enterprises provide a competitive edge in two ways – as leading subcontractors and as venture firms in their own right. (Cited in the research work of Owusu, 2011)
Also as cited in the research work of Owusu, 2011 Abugre (1994) micro and small enterprises are those enterprises employing 29 or fewer workers. Micro enterprises are those that employ between 1 to 5 people with fixed assets not exceeding 10,000 US Dollars excluding vehicles, land and buildings. Small enterprises employ between 6 and 29 or have fixed assets not exceeding 100,000 US Dollars excluding land and building. It must be emphasized that lack of finance remains the major constraint to small and medium enterprises in the country.
It is believed that Nigeria began officially promoting the activities of small and medium businesses in 1969 with the establishment of the credit guarantee scheme by the Bank of Nigeria to assist entrepreneurs in obtaining bank credit. This was followed in 1970 by the creation of the Nigeria business promoting programme. The objective of these initiatives was to promote financial and technical assistance to newly established and existing micro, small and medium scale businesses, but their impact was limited. The schemes benefited mostly politically connected Nigeriaian managers of foreign owned manufacturing companies (Abugre, 1994). In fact, the need for sustainable sources of funding for Small and medium scale business had necessitated the emergence of financial non-governmental organisations on the economic and business scene of the country. According to Opare-Djan (2002), the role Kraban Foundations has played in the microfinance business is substantial. One can also cite the case of Kiva, Sinapi Aba among others in NGOs implementation of micro financing activities.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
In the 2009 Bank of Nigeria report on the major operations of Banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria, it was established that most formal banking institutions do not cultivate the habit of doing business with individuals and small business customers, since they consider them to be high risk clients. Small and medium scale business are considered as high risk businesses because they lack the necessary collateral to serve as security for loans and it is costly. This is because applicants from the informal sector tend to apply for small loans which require the same administrative procedure and oversight that are required for the relatively larger loan request made by medium or large scale firms. Hence, the co-operate culture of banks and financial institutions are far removed from the informal world of the micro-entrepreneur.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this study is to find out the impact of micro credit on Small and medium scale business performance. Specifically the study aims at:
To find out the volume of loans granted by Microfinance bank to Small and medium scale business
To find out the challenges Small and medium scale business face when assessing micro-credit
To compare the rate at which Small and medium scale business borrow from Microfinance bank as against other sources of capital
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the impact of micro credit on Small and medium scale business performance
What is the volume of loans granted by Microfinance bank to Small and medium scale business
What are the challenges Small and medium scale business face when assessing micro-credit
What is the rate at which Small and medium scale business borrow from Microfinance bank as against other sources of capital
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The outcome of this research, which seeks to investigate the impact of microfinance on Small and medium scale business in Owerri, will serve as a guide to policy formulation and decision making input over the years. Also the findings of this study would be used as an additional guide by economic policy makers into Small and medium scale business in Nigeria. Also the results of the study can be adopted and used as a guide to take more pragmatic decisions. The study will also make known the activities of the two microfinance institutions under study, which will highlight their activities in the broader perspective in terms of granting loans and credit to the various Small and medium scale business. The study will also serve as literature which will contribute and add up to the existing knowledge of the proposed topic.
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