MICRO-FINANCING IN NIGERIA, PROBLEMS, PROSPECTS, AND SOLUTIONS (A CASE STUDY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN ENUGU NORTH METROPOLIS)
ABSTRACT
The study focuses on ‘Micro Financing in Nigeria; Problems encountered, future prospect and their solutions. The case study area was small and medium scale enterprises owners within Enugu North metropolis. The benefactors of the micro-finance programme have been applicants to one micro finance bank or the other before their request for fund were granted. The questionnaire used to carry out this research work was well structured to enable the researcher to get relevant information. Data collection employed was direct interview as most individuals could neither read nor write or both. The micro-finance Bank visited included: Umuchinemere Micro-Finance Bank and the University of Nigeria Nsukka Micro-Finance Banks both in Enugu. During the course of my research, analysis showed that most of the problems encountered by the applicants and the benefactors of the micro-finance program were “Procedural in nature”. Respondents say it is difficult to obtain. The instrument of data analysis used are simple percentage table and figures, and Chi-Square was also used for testing the hypothesis. Ninety four point thirty five percent (94.356) agreed that the procedures and straight while five point sixty five percent (5.656) agreed that the procedures are not straight. Conclusively, in order to enhance economic growth and development within the scope of study strategies on how repayment of loans should be made easy for applicants were analyzed extensively.