Thesis Abstract

Financial intermediation plays a crucial role in the functioning of capital markets and the overall economic development of a country. This research aims to explore the relationship between financial intermediaries, capital markets, and economic growth. Financial intermediaries such as banks, insurance companies, and investment firms facilitate the flow of funds between savers and borrowers. They play a vital role in channeling savings into productive investments, which in turn stimulate economic growth. By providing various financial services such as lending, underwriting, and asset management, financial intermediaries help allocate capital efficiently in the economy. Capital markets, on the other hand, provide a platform for buying and selling financial securities such as stocks and bonds. These markets enable companies to raise funds for expansion and innovation by issuing stocks and bonds to investors. Capital markets also allow investors to diversify their portfolios and earn returns on their investments. The interaction between financial intermediaries and capital markets is essential for the efficient functioning of the financial system. Financial intermediaries act as intermediaries between savers and borrowers, pooling funds from savers and allocating them to borrowers in the form of loans or investments in securities. This intermediation process helps reduce information asymmetries and transaction costs, making it easier for savers and borrowers to interact in the financial markets. The role of financial intermediation in economic development is multifaceted. Firstly, financial intermediaries help mobilize savings from households and allocate them to productive investments, which spur economic growth. By providing credit to businesses and individuals, financial intermediaries enable them to invest in new projects, expand their operations, and create jobs, leading to increased economic activity. Secondly, financial intermediaries contribute to financial market stability by diversifying risks and providing liquidity. Through services such as deposit insurance and asset management, financial intermediaries help reduce the impact of financial shocks and prevent systemic crises. This stability is crucial for maintaining investor confidence and ensuring the efficient functioning of capital markets. In conclusion, financial intermediation plays a vital role in the development of capital markets and the overall economic growth of a country. By facilitating the flow of funds, reducing information asymmetries, and promoting market stability, financial intermediaries contribute to the efficient allocation of capital and the prosperity of the economy. This research aims to shed light on the mechanisms through which financial intermediation influences capital markets and economic development, providing valuable insights for policymakers and market participants.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION
1.1     AN OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
In every country, there exist a financial system that is responsible for the regulating the financial environment of the country, determine the types and amount of funds to be issued, cost of funds and the uses of these funds.
The financial system plays fundamental role in the growth and development of an economy, particularly by serving as fulcrum for financial intermediation between the surplus and deficit units in the economy. It consists of financial intermediates, financial markets, financial institutions rules, norms and conventions that facilitate and regulate the flow of funds within the macro economy.
Banks and other financial institution are providers of liquidity and payment services and therefore represent an important nerve center of the economy and the link between the real and financial sectors., in particular, they facilitate the intermediation of financial resources through the promotion of the savings and investment process, as well as, constitute the institution framework for the conduct of monetary policy and channel for the transmission mechanism. Thus, the financial system is the hub role of financial intermediation, anchor payment services and is the bedrock of monetary policy implementation.
The development of the financial system charges in tandem with the development in the economy. The Nigeria financial system has continued to transform in character, ownership, structure, depth and extent of the instruments, number of institutions and regulatory framework. The financial system is the counter-part of the real system and because the financial system has to do with the provision of finance the facilitate activities in the real sector, any deficiency therein will reflect negatively on the real system and will have negative impact on the economy as a whole.
The financial system thus function primarily for the purpose of allocating and utilizing financial resources efficiently for economy advancement. The financial market comprises two broad segments; the capital and the money markets. Institutions or organization in both markets constitute financial intermediates that play the vital role of intermediation and other roles in the economy.
The Money Market: is the market which creates opportunities for raising and investing short-term funds. It is also refers to a collection or group of financial institutions or exchange system set up for dealing with short-term credit instruments. The various financial instruments that are exchange or traded in the money market include treasury bill, treasury certificates, commercial paper, bank acceptance etc.
The Capital Market: On the other hand, is simply the aspect of the financial system which mobilized medium to long-term funds and channel same into industries and government for project financing. It is distinct from the money market which function principally to meet the short-term financial requirement of household (individuals), corporate bodies and government. The capital market is a connection of instrument, institutions, individuals and facilitates acting in concert to facilitate the savings and investment process and consequently fostering socio-economic development. The capital market has two segments

1. The primary market (New issue)
2. The secondary market

The primary market is the market that provides mechanism for corporate bodies and government to raise funds through the issuance of securities, which are subscribed by the general public of private placement.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sits at the apex of the primary market, regulating the issues of public companies and all private companies with foreign participation. The operators or intermediates in this market are issuing house, stock broking firms, the registrar, underwriter, receiving banker, trustee, solicitors to the issue, the reporting accountant and issuer. Investors pass on their resources to some of these institutions for investment purposes. The role of intermediation played by these intermediates in the primary market will be discussed extensively in chapter two of this research work.
The secondary market by contrast provides an avenue for the sales and purchase of existing securities, that is, securities which have been sold in the primary market and which are being disposed off by the initial or subsequent holders of the security. It therefore enable investors to easily convert their holding of securities into cash.
The major instrument used to raise fund at the Nigerian capital market includes:

1. Equity: Ordinary shares and preference shares.
2. Debt: Government bonds (federal, state, local government).
3. Industrial Loan: Debentures stock and bonds.

The major participants in the Nigerian capital major are as follows:

1. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
2. The market intermediaries or operators
3. The Central Banks of Nigeria (CBN)
4. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
5. The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF)

The regulatory bodies of Nigerian Capital Market are:

1. The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF)
2. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
3. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
4. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)

The constituencies in the Nigerian Capital market can be broadly classified into four categories.

1. Fund providers (individuals, unit trust, pension fund)
2. Users of funds (companies, Government)
3. Intermediates (Stock broking firms, issuing houses, registrars, audit firm)
4. Regulators (SEC, NSE, CBN, FMF)

Some of these constituencies of the Nigerian capital market will be discussed in details in capital market will be discussed in details in chapter two of this research work.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM  

Financial intermediation will not be necessary, if the lender and the borrower can come into direct contact and would infact not be necessary if there is no deficit or surplus sector or unit.