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THE ROLE OF MICROFINANCE BANK IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background to the Study 

Over 500 million of the world's populations live under very poor conditions but they are economically active. They lack access to basic necessities of life; food, shelter and primary health care. They earn their livelihoods by being self employed as micro entrepreneurs or by working in micro enterprises (very small businesses which may employ up to 5 people). These micro entrepreneurs make a wide range of goods in small workshops; engage in small trading and retail activities; make pots, pans and furniture, or sell fruits and vegetables. Yet, these poor  households often fail to secure the capital they need and miss the opportunities for growth because they do not have access to financial resources, loans or safe places to hold savings (Egwuatu, 2018).

In most developing countries, Nigeria inclusive, financial services such as bank loans, insurance, and pension funds are inaccessible by the poor. When credit is available, it is often limited to either community savings groups or informal money-lenders who charge very high interest rates which most of our local entrepreneurs could not afford, and this reflects the lack of a formal market. The mobilization of savings at local level has been an important element for community development around the world for a long time. At the traditional schemes, individual have been utilizing loans through moneylenders, community savings, and the mobilization of local resources through concerted action(s) (Egwuatu, 2018).

Nigerians are enterprising and industrious but the question is where do they source fund to run their business? They involve in business activities such as small trading and retail activities, sales of food products, and manufacturing of local products especially, food stuff, production of sachet water, manufacturing of nylons, tourism, educational establishments and sales of communication items such as mobile phones, sales of recharge cards, phone accessories, among others. Also they engage in hotel services and agriculture for example, poultry farming, fish farming among others. One begins to wonder where they source funds to establish these businesses because, commercial banks traditionally lend to medium and large enterprises. These enterprises are judged to be creditworthy. Therefore, they avoid doing business with the poor and their micro-enterprises because of high cost and risk associated with credit granting. Nonetheless, many micro enterprises are springing into action without formal financial institution’s support to provide the basic needs of the population (society).

The federal government of Nigeria therefore, took a good step by enacting legislation for the establishment of community banks in the year 1990. The government aimed at reducing the financial constraints of small scale  entrepreneurship and to assist the poor who are talented in doing business not to be left out. The effort of the government however, have been geared towards narrowing the income gap between the urban and the rural areas by breaking the cycle of unemployment, economic stagnation, and poverty. In order to achieve these goals, whether collective or individual, the urban or rural need to be financed and this requires enormous of capital infusion (Akinboyo, 2019). The practice of microfinance in Nigeria is culturally rooted and dates back to several centuries. The traditional microfinance institutions provide access to credit for the rural and urban low income earners. They are mainly the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Rotating Savings and Credit associations (ROSCAs) types. Other providers of microfinance services include saving collectors and co-operative societies. They generally have limited outreach due to paucity of loan able funds. Also, another evidence to support the existence of microfinance in Nigeria are the cultural economic activities such as “Esusu”, “Adashi”, “Otataje”, est, which were practiced to provide funds for producers in our rural communities (Akinboyo, 2007).

The informal microfinance arrangement operates under different names such as ‘ESUSU’ among the Yorubas in Southwest, Nigeria, ‘ETOTO’ for the Igbos in the Eastern part and ‘ADASHI’ in the Northern part of the country. However, the common features of these groups are savings and credit components, informality of operations and higher interest in relation to the commercial banking sector. Therefore, all these traditional groups that perform the activities of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) are found in all the rural communities in Nigeria. MFIs have become the main source of funding small scale enterprises in developing countries. It has created room for millions of households usually excluded from classical financial services to commence their own economic activities or to reinforce the existing efforts and become entrepreneurs in developing countries. Entrepreneurship is a potent instrument of activating the economic growth in developing countries. It is associated with job creation, wealth creation, poverty eradication, innovations, and its related welfare effects. As a result, many developing countries including Nigeria embark upon promotion of entrepreneurship through microfinance so as to achieve this objective.

Iweala (2005) opines that the latent capacity of poor for entrepreneurship would be significantly enhanced through the provision of microfinance services to enable them engage in more economic activities and be more self-reliant, increase employment opportunities, enhance household income and create wealth. Fashola (2008a) asserted that with microfinance, graduates roaming the streets in search of jobs would have a new orientation to start their own business and become employers of labour and generate wealth for themselves, their families and the nation.

Niekerk (2008) believed that robust economic growth could not be achieved without putting in place a well structured framework that could be meaningfully supported economic activities at the grassroots, such as the microfinance platform. He stressed that micro credit is an important liberating force in an economy and must be extended not only to poor but, to the active sector of the economy. Thus, this research work attempts to give an overview of how Microfinance impacts on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria with a special reference to Ogun State.

1.2    Statement of the Problem

Microfinance institutions are agents of economic development in developing countries. People from developing countries have innovative ideas for their business, even as a shop keeper or household products manufacturer but they lack financial resources to implement their ideas. This results to low economic activities in developing countries and it leads them to more poverty, unemployment, and poor life standards. Therefore, there is need for establishment of MFIs so as to support the poor in order to proffer solution to their financial constraints, so that they can contribute a productive part of the society to make it sustainable (Oshitola, 2017). Entrepreneurship development in Nigeria is basseted with a number of problems. These problems manifest differently in different countries. However, there are certain problems which are common to entrepreneurship in Nigeria. These include inadequacy of capital for production investment, problem of accessing financial assistance from the banking institutions, undeveloped infrastructural facilities for the development of entrepreneurship take–off, asymmetric information in regards to business climate, complex bureaucratic procedures in setting-up a business and high cost of doing business. Aderibigbe (2018) is of the view that microfinance recognizes the peculiar challenges of micro enterprises and of their owners. It recognizes the inability of the poor to provide tangible collateral and therefore, promotes collateral substitution; disbursement and repayment are structured to suit credit need and cash flow pattern of small business. Thus, this research work attempts to give an overview of how microfinance impacts on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria with a special reference to Ogun State in Nigeria using Ogun State as case study. The specific objectives are: (a) to examine the role played by MFIs on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, (b) to examine the problems faced by MFIs in promoting entrepreneurship in Nigeria, (c) to proffer necessary policies for possible implementation. The hypothesis of this study is; there is no significant relationship between microfinance and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. At the end of this study, it is expected this study will be a valuable addition to existing literature on entrepreneurship as impacted by microfinance. It will also give entrepreneurs in Nigerian some valuable insights into the effects of microfinance as means of sourcing for fund in promoting their businesses. The information obtained from the study will be of great significance to microfinance banks that will see the need to support entrepreneurship which is today a potent instrument of activating the economic growth in developing countries and which is associated with job creation, wealth creation, poverty eradication, innovations, and its related welfare effects. The study will also point out why microfinance institutions are potent force/agents of economic and entrepreneurship development in developing countries.

1.3    Objectives of the Study

The primary aim of this study is to examine the effect of inflation on income and wealth distribution of the nation. The specifics objectives are to:

1.  assessing the Impact of Microfinance Institutions on Financial Inclusion.

2.  examining the Contribution of Microfinance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Growth.

3.  evaluating the Impact of Microfinance on Poverty Alleviation.

4.  analyzing the Sustainability and Outreach of Microfinance Institutions.

1.4   Research Questions

1.  To what extent do microfinance banks contribute to financial inclusion in Nigeria?

2.  How does the support provided by microfinance banks impact the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria?

3.  What is the overall impact of microfinance institutions on poverty alleviation in Nigeria?

4.  How sustainable are microfinance banks, and what is the extent of their outreach in contributing to economic development in Nigeria?

1.5      Research Hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: The services provided by microfinance banks have a significant positive relationship with financial inclusion in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 2: Microfinance bank support has a significant positive impact on the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria..

Hypothesis 3 Microfinance banks significantly contribute to poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 4 The sustainability and outreach of microfinance banks have a significant positive relationship with their contribution to economic development in Nigeria.

1.6  Significance of the Study

Policy Formulation and Enhancement: The findings of the study can provide valuable insights for policymakers in Nigeria to formulate and enhance policies related to microfinance institutions. Policymakers can use the study's results to design targeted strategies that foster the positive contributions of microfinance banks to economic development.

Economic Inclusion and Empowerment: The study has the potential to contribute to economic inclusion by shedding light on the effectiveness of microfinance banks in reaching marginalized populations. Understanding the impact of these institutions on financial empowerment can inform initiatives aimed at lifting individuals and communities out of poverty.

SMEs Development Strategies: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial for economic growth. The study's findings can offer insights into how microfinance banks can better support the growth and development of SMEs. This information can be used to formulate strategies to enhance the role of microfinance in fostering a robust SME sector.

Poverty Alleviation Programs: By assessing the impact of microfinance institutions on poverty alleviation, the study contributes to the design and improvement of poverty reduction programs. Policymakers, NGOs, and development agencies can use this information to refine existing initiatives and develop new approaches to address poverty at its roots.

Financial Sector Regulation and Oversight: The study's findings can inform regulatory bodies and financial institutions about the strengths and challenges of microfinance banks. This can contribute to more effective oversight and regulation of the microfinance sector, ensuring its stability and the protection of clients.

Investment and Funding Decisions: Investors, philanthropists, and development agencies may benefit from the study's insights when making decisions regarding investments in microfinance institutions. Understanding the role of microfinance banks in economic development can guide resource allocation to initiatives with a proven positive impact.

Academic and Research Advancement: The study adds to the academic body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the role of microfinance banks in economic development. Researchers and scholars can build upon these findings, contributing to ongoing discussions and further advancing the understanding of the microfinance sector's impact on the economy.

1.7      Scope of the Study

The scope of this study on "The Role of Microfinance Banks in Economic Development in Nigeria" is broad and comprehensive, aiming to delve into various facets of microfinance institutions and their impact on the nation's economic development. The investigation will encompass a detailed analysis of existing microfinance institutions operating in Nigeria, scrutinizing their organizational structures, operational models, and the array of financial services they offer to their clients. Special attention will be given to assessing the effectiveness of microfinance banks in promoting financial inclusion, with a focus on their accessibility to underserved and economically marginalized populations. Furthermore, the study will investigate the crucial role played by microfinance banks in supporting the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, considering the financial resources, training programs, and additional support services provided to SMEs. The scope extends to evaluating the strategies employed by microfinance institutions to alleviate poverty among their clients, exploring outreach initiatives and product effectiveness. Sustainability, both in financial viability and governance structures, will be thoroughly examined to understand the long-term prospects and overall contributions of these institutions to economic development. The study will also consider regional variations, examining how the role of microfinance banks differs across diverse states or regions within Nigeria. Regulatory frameworks governing microfinance institutions will be scrutinized to understand compliance requirements and the oversight role of regulatory bodies. Additionally, the study aims to identify and analyze challenges faced by microfinance banks and opportunities that could enhance their contributions to economic development. By comprehensively addressing these components, the study seeks to offer a nuanced and detailed understanding of the multifaceted role that microfinance banks play in contributing to economic development in Nigeria.

1.8      Definition of Term

Sustainability: Sustainability refers to the capacity of a system, process, or organization to endure over the long term, maintaining balance and resilience while minimizing negative environmental, social, and economic impacts.

Innovation: Innovation is the process of introducing new ideas, methods, products, or services that create value, enhance efficiency, or bring about positive change within an organization, industry, or society.

Globalization: Globalization is the interconnectedness and interdependence of economies, cultures, and societies on a global scale. It involves the flow of goods, services, information, and ideas across national borders.

Digital Transformation: Digital transformation refers to the integration of digital technologies into various aspects of an organization's operations, processes, and services to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and adapt to changing technological landscapes.

Social Equity: Social equity is the fair and just distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society. It involves promoting equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, regardless of individual differences.

Algorithm: An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions or rules designed to perform a specific task or solve a particular problem. In computer science, algorithms are commonly used for data processing, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Corporate Social Responsibility is a business approach that involves organizations taking responsibility for their impact on society and the environment. It encompasses ethical business practices, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.

Big Data: Big Data refers to large and complex sets of data that exceed the processing capabilities of traditional database systems. It involves the analysis of vast amounts of information to extract valuable insights and patterns.

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