Thesis Abstract

The abstract of the research is as follows This study investigates the roles and problems of financial institutions in supporting the growth of small-scale businesses in Nigeria, with a specific focus on Union Bank of Nigeria PLC in Enugu. Small-scale businesses play a crucial role in the economic development of Nigeria, contributing significantly to employment generation and income generation. However, these businesses often face challenges accessing the financial resources needed to grow and expand. Financial institutions, such as Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, are essential sources of funding and support for small-scale businesses. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of financial data from Union Bank of Nigeria PLC with qualitative interviews and surveys with small-scale business owners in Enugu. The quantitative analysis provides insights into the lending practices and financial services offered by the bank to small-scale businesses. The qualitative data offer perspectives from small-scale business owners on the challenges they face in accessing financing and the role of financial institutions in supporting their growth. The findings of the study reveal that financial institutions, including Union Bank of Nigeria PLC, play a crucial role in providing financial support to small-scale businesses in Enugu. The bank offers a range of financial products and services tailored to the needs of small-scale businesses, including loans, overdraft facilities, and business advisory services. However, small-scale businesses still encounter various challenges in accessing financing, such as high-interest rates, collateral requirements, and complex application processes. The study identifies several problems faced by financial institutions in supporting the growth of small-scale businesses in Nigeria. These include inadequate credit risk assessment mechanisms, limited financial literacy among small-scale business owners, and regulatory constraints that limit the ability of banks to lend to small businesses. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration between financial institutions, policymakers, and small-scale business owners to develop solutions that enhance access to finance and support the growth of small-scale businesses in Nigeria. Overall, the study highlights the important role of financial institutions in supporting the growth of small-scale businesses in Nigeria and identifies key challenges that need to be addressed to improve access to finance for small-scale entrepreneurs.

Thesis Overview

Financial institutions have a very great role to play in the growth of small scale business everywhere in the world but I will limit my discussion to their roles in Nigeria.

Financial institutions could be seen as an institutions which primary function is collecting and giving out funds to individuals, firms, organizations etc. for business purposes.

From the definition of financial institution, or its function, one can see that financial institution could aid the growth of small scale business. How can this be done or achieved? That is the next question that could come to one’s mind. It could be achieved by the financial institutions giving out funds in form of loans, overdraft, grants and aids etc on request from small scale business man or woman.

I will not forget to talk about or explain what a small scale business is. A small scale business could be talked about or explained by different people in different ways.

And in their different views, a lot of factors or things is being considered before calling a business small scale business. What am saying in essence is that, what Mr A calls small scale business might not be what Mr. B calls small scale business. Therefore a small scale is business is being explained by these few people and school of thought. Blott Lawrence 1973 defines small scale business to be any industry which is independently owned and operated and not dominant in its area of operation.

The Committee for Economic Development (C.E.D) of the united States defines small scale business of having at least two of the underlisted characteristics:

(a)  Managers are also owners.

(b)  Area of operation mainly local

(c)  Owner supply capital and

(d)  Small in size within the industry.

 1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.

1. Small scales industries are capable to source capital easily from Union Bank Plc and this problem prevents entrepreneurs from procurement of machinery and equipment required for production.
2. The banks are not helping matters because their condition for giving loans are not easily met and the small scale industry owners are unable to provide their request with well structured and circulated feasibility studies.
3. The inability of the banks to support the entrepreneurs through loan and other instruments such as leasing of equipment result in low capital utilization, volume of production, provision of services and sales.
4. The loan granted suffers additional problems of high interest rates and the burden creates higher probability of default in repayment of loans.
5. The rapid policies of banks contrary to CBN guidelines and the attendant. Lack of collateral securities from the entrepreneurs created additional problems of inability to procure and unitize capital from Union Bank Plc.

 1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The reason for the study of the roles and problems of financial institutions to the growth of small scale business is that it helps individuals, small scale business owners and all the sundries to be informed of the roles of financial institutions to the economy and at the same time so that they can take an advantage of the roles and develop themselves, their families and the nation at large. These roles include giving of loans, advances, overdrafts, grants and aids and advisory services. The roles when utilize properly by small scale business owners help in the growth of their businesses.

          Financial institutions have some problems they are confronted with too. These problems include borrowers not paying back at stated time, government policies and regulations etc. This problems affect the smooth running of financial institutions because ties up capital that would have been used for further development of the sector. Government regulations or policies also affects also affects financial institutions because, government might make a policy to correct certain abnormalities in the economy. The policy might affect their profit as such it constitutes a problem.

 1.4     SCOPE OF THE STUDY.

The research was to determine the roles and problems of financial institutions to the growth of small scale business in Nigeria. The research carried out in-dept study on the operations of financial institutions to the growth of the said industries.

Due to the current emphasis on the industrialization of the industry in order to reduce country’s export bill from foreign countries and unemployment the study focuses attention on the evaluation of small scale industries that obtains loan from the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc to attain the needed heights and capacity. The research covers selected small scale industries in Enugu.

          Small scale industries as used in this study are those indigenously owned fully by Nigerians and with an annual turnover not exceeding five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00)

 1.5     RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS 1

Ho.     Union Bank Nigeria Plc would not accommodate small scale entrepreneurs in their priority sector for provision of funds for procurement of machinery and other equipment.

 H1.   Union Bank Nigeria Plc would accommodate small scale entrepreneurs in their priority sector for provision of funds for procurement of machinery and other equipment.

 HYPOTHESIS 2

Ho:     Union Bank Nigeria plc would not provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs without collateral securities.

H1:   Union Bank Nigeria plc would provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs without collateral securities.

 1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Financial institutions play a very significant5role in the growth of small scale business. The roles they play includes:

1. Giving of loans to small scale business.
2. Giving of overdraft
3. They render business advisory services.

 I.      GIVING OF LOANS TO SAMLL SCALE BUSINESS:

This is one of the roles played by financial institutions in the growth of small scale business. They give loans to small business man or woman on request. This aids the small scale businessmen can now perform better compares to when they has small capital.

 II.     GIVING OF OVERDRAFT.

Financial institutions allow small scale businessmen that have a savings account deposit to withdraw from their accounts more than they have if they wish. This excess allows or enables the capital at hand to increase. The addition of the excess fund to the main amount withdrawn would aid the small scale businessmen to plan better than they would have done if they withdraws the main fund he has in his account.

 III.   THEY RENDER BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES.

Financial institutions render advisory services to small businessmen. This advisory services they render aids the small scale business who acts upon the advise rendered. It aids them to grow in business. Small scale businessmen are thought how to introduce simple record keeping and accounting in their operations. This is because, most business concerns do not keep accurate record of their business and this can lead to business failure. Banks or financial institutions providing this services have reported significant success.

 1.7            LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY.

Like in any other human activities the study has its limitations and constraints.

High cost of materials and increase in transportation fare, scarce financial resources have constituted a constraint to the study.

 Time considerations and distance involved in collecting the primary data is another limitation of the study. This is because the time lag between the end of course work and the submission of the project is greatly inadequate.

          Moreover, interview , attitude of respondents constituted a constraint on the researcher as some respondents gave inaccurate information or failed to return their questionnaires.

 1.8       DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.    BANK

A financial institution that keeps custody of valuables such as money, gold, jewelries etc. for customers. They charge customer for their services.

 2.  ENTREPRENEUR.

The one who conceives the idea of a business, runs the business, bears the risk and enjoys profit or loss.

 3.       FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Are institutions responsible for collecting and giving out funds to individuals, firms, organization etc. for business purpose.

4.    GRANT.

It is a financial assistance by financial institutions or government which is not repayable.

 5.       LOAN

Financial assistance rendered by financial institutions to borrowers. It is payable and collateral is required before financial institution can grant the loan.

 6.       MANAGER.

One who adopts a process for running the affairs of a business.

 7.       OVERDRAFT.

It is a kind of loan granted by banks, but before this loan is granted, the person who wants the loan must have an account in the bank. It is a situation where an account holder in a bank withdraws above the amount he has in his account

 8.     SMALL SCALE BUSINESS.

A buSiness in which the managers are the owners, area of operation mainly local, owners supply capital and small in size within the industry.

REFERENCES

 Ani Nnenna B. (1999) entrepreneurial Development (An Overview) J.T.C. Publishers. Enugu.

Chadwick and Kirkby D. (1995) Financial Management 1st edition, London and New York.

Chuke Nwude (2001); Basic Principles of Financial Management. A first course, 1st edition El’Demark Publishers Enugu

Ejiofor (1989) Foundation of Business Administration Africa PublishersOnitsha.

Eze, J.A (1999) Foundations of Financial Markets and Institution 2nd editionGlanic Books Enugu

Fabossi, F.J. etal (1985) Foundations Financial Markets and Institutions 2ndedition Prentice Hall New York.

Macfablane W.N. (1977); Principles of Small Business Management MC GrawHill Book Company New York