The Impact Of Microfinance Banks On The Growth Of Small And Medium Scale Enterprises In Ilorin Metropolis
The Impact Of Microfinance Banks On The Growth Of Small And Medium Scale Enterprises In Ilorin Metropolis
Abstract
In today’s knowledge on economy, firm performance and competitive advantage are derived more from what a firm knows and the human capital that permits the firm to use what it knows. Thus human capital has been identified as one of the most critical agents of SMEs performance while human capital development has been recognized as one of the most vital tools for improving SMEs performance. This research therefore offers a field of insight into the relationship between human capital development and SMEs performance in illorin through a survey of randomly selected SMEs operating in illorin metropolis. This research therefore recommends that SMEs operators should actively promote participation in seminars, trade fairs, workshops and exhibition in order to acquire current knowledge that will positively impact on the performance of the SMEs and enhance their capacity for growth and survival.
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Micro and small businesses are believed to be the engine room for the development of any economy because they form the bulk of business activities in a growing economy like that of Nigeria (Ashamu, 2014). Since Nigeria attained independence in 1960, considerable efforts have been directed towards industrial development. The initial efforts were government led through the vehicle of large industry but lately emphasis has been shifted to small and medium scale enterprises following the lessons learnt from the success of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the economic growth of Asian countries (Ojo, 2003). Thus, the recent industrial development drive in Nigeria according to Abiola (2012) has now focused on sustainable development through small business development.
The contribution of micro and small enterprises (MSE) to the economic growth and sustainable development is globally acknowledged (CBN, 2004). They form an important part of the business landscape in any country, but they are however faced with significant challenges that inhibit their ability to function and contribute optimally to the economic development of many African countries. The position in Nigeria is not different from this generalised position (NIPC, 2009 as indicated by Abiola & Salami, 2011). In line with this, Owualah, Carpenter, Lawson and Anyanwu (as cited by Abiola 2012) identified lack of access to finance as one of the major constraints to successful small business performance. The reason is that provision of financial services is an important means for mobilizing resources for more productive use (Watson & Everett, 1999). The extent to which small businesses can access funds determines the extent to which they can save and accumulate their own capital for further investment, but small businesses in Nigeria find it difficult to gain access to formal financial institution such as commercial banks for fund (Holmes & Kent, 1991).
Abdul (2008) cited that a study carried out by Rweyemamu, Kimaro and Urassa (2003) also revealed that, formal financial institutions have failed to serve the small business in both urban and rural communities. It was also emphasized by Ogawa and Suzuki (2000) that bank do not want to offer loans to MSEs because the nature of loans required by the informal sector is too small and those banks find it more expensive to offer such loans. In line with this, Chijoriga and Cassimon (2000) are of the opinion that most of the conventional institutions regard low- income households as too poor to save, do not keep written accounts or business plans and they usually borrow small and uneconomic sums as such they find it difficult to extend their credit facilities to them.
The dismal performance of the conventional finance sectors coupled with the need to fill the credit gap created by these same conventional financial institutions through haemal social networks triggered the avocation of microfinance by policy makers, practitioners and international organisation as a tool for poverty reduction and provision of credit facilities to low income earners (Nwanchukwu & Mejeha 2008). According to Ronaldo (2010), microfinance is a good way of supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses because it provides poor borrowers with access to sustainable funds through granting of zero or very low interest loans. The establishment of microfinance banks as an effort by the government to improve access to loans and savings services for small businesses through microfinance banks (MFBs) and other microfinance institutions (MFIs) is currently being promoted as a key development strategy to enhancing poverty eradication and economic development (Alalade, Amusa & Bolanle, 2013). In line with this, Abimiku (2000) also asserted that finance is the pre-occupation of the banking industry that brings together the factors of production such as land labour, and entrepreneur. According to Babagana (2010), there is no doubt that small businesses need the assistance through microfinance banks to become sustainable and competitive, thus the promotion of small businesses has been carried out by subsidizing credit, providing preference treatment and target location for business.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The establishment of microfinance banks arose as an effort of the government to cater for the financial needs of the informal sector who find it difficult to access funds from the conventional banks (commercial banks) due to insufficient collateral, small amount of loan transaction and low earning capacity (Olowe, Moradeyo & Babalola, 2013). However, the financial and credit needs of the informal sector which are the major target for the establishment of microfinance banks have not been adequately met by the banks as they face challenges in accessing the facilities rendered by the microfinance banks . In the light of this, this research work investigates the impact the microfinance banks have on the performance of small businesses, who are the major constituents of the informal sector in terms of productivity, profitability and sustainability and continuity.
1.3 Research Questions
Based on the statement of problem, the following research questions were raised
- What impact do microfinance banks have on the performance of small businesses?
- Has micro financing improved the productivity level of small businesses?
- Does microfinance credit increases the profitability of small businesses?
- In what ways will the continuity of small business be determined by micro financing?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of microfinance banks on the performance of small businesses in Ilorin metropolis. While the specific objectives are to
- Determine if the services rendered by microfinance banks have improved the performance of small businesses
- Analyse the impact microfinance services has on the productivity level of small businesses.
- Ascertain the impact of microfinance credit on the profitability of small businesses.
- Find out the impact of microfinance services on the continuity of small businesses.
1.5 Hypotheses of the Study
Based on the research questions the following hypotheses were formulated
HO1: There is no significant relationship between services rendered by microfinance bank and small business performance
Ho2: There is no significant relationship between micro financing and the productivity level of small business
Ho3: There is no significant relationship between microfinance credit and the profitability of small businesses
Ho4: There is no significant relationship between microfinance and the continuity of small businesses
1.6 Justification of the Study
Many researches have been done relating to this study, such as Babajide (2012) who examined the effects of microfinance banks on micro and small enterprises (MSEs) growth in Nigeria, Oyeniyi (2014) who investigated the influence of Microfinance bank on the performance of small businesses at the community level and Ashamu (2014) who studied the impact of micro finance on small scale business in Nigeria. However, not so many researches have been carried out on the impact of microfinance banks on the performance of small businesses in urban areas like Ilorin in which this study was conducted. This study is therefore justified in filling this observed gap by examining the various services rendered by microfinance banks in order to determine its impact on the performance of small businesses in Ilorin metropolis in terms of profitability, productivity, continuity and also to provide empirical evidence on the impact of micro credit on the short term and long term performance of small businesses.
1.7 Scope of the Study
Majority of small business are either individually owned or family owned, have a low capital base, are located in urban and semi urban areas and largely reside in the informal sector (Ojo, 2003). The research work therefore focuses on the various small businesses in Ilorin metropolis in order to analyse what impact the microfinance banks have on their performance.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Micro Enterprise:
Micro- enterprise is the informally organized business activity undertaken by entrepreneurs; excluding crop production by convention, employing less than ten people and having assets less than N5 million excluding land and building ( Abiola, 2011).
Micro and Small Business:
According to Babajide (2012), The MSE nomenclature is used to mean Micro and Small Enterprises. It is sometimes referred to as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). A small business is any business that is independently owned and managed; started with little capital and is being operated using a few number of employees to produce goods and services to satisfy the needs of the local community for profit.
Microfinance Banks:
Microfinance Banks are licensed financial institutions meant to serve the un-served, but economically active clients in the rural and peri-urban areas by providing diversified, affordable and dependable financial services to the active poor, in a timely and competitive manner, which would enable them to undertake and develop long-term, sustainable entrepreneurial activities and mobilize savings for intermediation (CBN, 2005).
Microfinance Institutions:
Microfinance Institutions are organizations whose activities consist wholly or in significant part, of the provision of financial services to micro entrepreneurs.
Microfinance:
By definition microfinance is described as the provision of appropriate financial services to significant numbers of low income, economically active people with an end objective to alleviate poverty ( Ledger wood, 1998).
Microfinance Services:
These are services rendered by microfinance banks and these includes; provision of cheap or low interest loan, savings, advisory services, training services, micro insurance and microcredit.
Microcredit:
Microcredit is commonly defined in terms of loan amount as a percentage of average per capita income. In the context of Nigeria, with a GDP per capita of N42,000 (about $300) in 2003, loans up to N50,000 (around $350) will be regarded as micro loans (UNDP, 2009 as cited in Dunn, 2012).
Small Business Performance:
Enterprise performance implies attributes that show changes in volumes of activities or physical size. It indicates the enterprises ability to prevail. When these changes are increasing the performance is generally positive. These attributes i.nclude profitability, productivity, employment levels and expansion in physical facilities
Profitability:
A typical enterprise defines profitability as follows: Gross Margin = (Sales – Cost of Goods Sold) ÷ Annual Sales. Profitability reflects the financial performance of an enterprise.
Productivity:
Productivity is an overall measure of the ability to produce a good or service. More specifically, productivity is the measure of how specified resources are managed to accomplish timely objectives as stated in terms of quantity and quality.
Chapter Five
Summary Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of microfinance banks on the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in Illorin metropolis.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the impact of microfinance banks and the growth of SMEs in Nigeria.
5.2 Summary
The main findings of this research revealed that micro-financing as practiced in Nigeria microfinance banks do not enhance growth and expansion capacity of micro and small enterprise in Nigeria. The findings confirmed the views expressed by Olutunla and Obamuyi (2008) that the growth of SMEs is not just dependent on accessing bank loan but accessing the right size of loan at the right time. Micro finance does not enhance the expansion capacity of small business in Nigeria. Looking at the study critically, it was also revealed that variables such as technology related training received by the entrepreneur, business location, business age and business registration in that order are the variables that impact significantly on small business growth, none of the micro finance variables was found to have significant impact on small business growth for SMEs. The study also revealed that owners’ education, loan interest, duration of asset loan, business location, technology related training received and size of asset loan, all impact significantly on micro firm growth.
5.3 Conclusion
Entrepreneurs in the small and medium sector of the economy in Nigeria require access to finance for their businesses to grow. Although, the SME sector contributes significantly to the national economy, the sector has so far not been given due recognition commensurate with level of the contribution. Although financial issues are important to all firms, results from this study show that both financial and non-financial services obtained from MFBs have highly benefited SMEs. Therefore MFBs contributes significantly to an enhanced entrepreneurial environment by making the business environment more conducive and narrows the resource gap for small businesses. Based on findings from this study, the use of MFBs has potentials for enhancing the performance of small businesses in two ways- regular participation in micro financing and offering of non – financial services. This suggests that government policies aimed at promoting the performance of SMEs should also address the financial and non-financial activities of the MFBS.
5.4 Recommendation
Haven successfully completed the study, the following recommendations was put forward by the researcher:
SME operators should utilize the benefits of MFBs to promoting their business outfits so that the economy as a whole is improved in performance
Government should regulate and monitor the activities of MFBs to redress the identified weaknesses.
Government and MFBs themselves should enhance the out-reach of microfinance through creating awareness of the activities and operations to SMEs especially those in rural and semi-urban areas that are yet to appreciate the benefits of the scheme.
Government should also ensure active operation of the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme to improve credit providers’ exposure to longer term debt issued by small firm managers, in such areas as business plan development, feasibility studies, project monitoring and analysis, book keeping and accounting, performance evaluation etc. this could be organized before entry into business or early in the business when it is having access to equity finance. This is essential in order to facilitate the qualification of the business for credits to leverage its equity capital as going-on concern.
Government should provide a congenial environment for the operation of venture capital and business angels financing (business entrepreneurial monitoring) so as to enable them to provide risky start-up capital for small business.
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