The development of Microfinance Bank in Nigeria (a case study of Octopus Microfinance Bank, oto-ijanikin, lagos)

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Table of content

Chapter One

1.0      Introduction

1.1      Definition of microfinance

1.2      Entrepreneurship

1.3      Overview of microfinance banks in Nigeria

1.4      Brief history about the people of Oto-Awori and Ijanikin

1.5      Purpose of the study

1 .6    Method of research and research questions

1.7      Problem of the study

1.8      Definition of basic terms

Chapter Two

2.0      Literature review

2.1      Role of microfinance banks in promoting entrepreneurship in rural areas

2.2      Financial requirement

2.2.1   Directors

2.2.2   Management requirement

2.3      Certification process

2.4      The history of microfinance

2.4.     Examples of recent innovations in financial services for the poor

2.5      Importance of microfinance banks

2.5.1   Government view of microfinance sector

2.6      Problems of microfinance banks

Chapter Three

3.0      Introduction

3.1      Chapter Outline

3.2      Review of research questions/hypothesis

3.3      Research design

3.4      Characteristics of the study population

3.5      Sampling procedure and design

3.6      Data collection instrument

3.7      Administration of the data collection instrument

3.8      Limitation of the methodology 52

Chapter Four

Data presentation and analysis

4.0       Introduction of chapter

4.1      Socio-demographic analysis

4.2      Research question

Testing hypothesis

Chapter Five

Summary, conclusion and recommendations

5.0      Introduction

5.1      Restatement of research questions

5.2      Restatement of hypothesis

5.3      Summary of findings

5.4      Discussions

5.5      Conclusions

5.6      Recommendations

CHAPTER ONE

1.0    INTRODUCTION

Microfinance refers to the entire flexible structures and processes by which financial services are delivered to micro entrepreneurs as well as the poor and low income population on a sustainable basis. It recognized poor and micro entrepreneurs who are excluded or denied access to financial services on account of their inability to provide tangible assets as collateral for credit facilities (Jamil, 2008).

Microfinance can be seen as a supply of loans, savings and other financial services to the poor. It is the practice of delivering those services in a sustainable manner so that poor households will have access to financial services so that they can build sustainable microenterprise. While microenterprise is a business that is independently owned and operated by its owners and does not meet certain standards of size which in most cases operated as informal business.

Credits to microenterprises are assuming importance in rural areas in response to the need of the less privileged entrepreneurs with limited capital base. In Nigeria, access to formal credit is a major problem facing the small and medium scale entrepreneurs due to the prevalence of some factors such as delays in loan disbursement on the part of the financial institutions and payment defaults on the part of the beneficiaries (Olajide, 1980).

The aim of microfinance is not only to extend credits to beneficiaries but to promote entrepreneurship and boost rural financial markets that will provide sustainable access to financial services by creating a relationship between those with financial resources and those who need them.

Microfinance banking is about providing financial service to economically active poor who are traditionally not served by conventional banks in Nigeria.

The formal financial system provides services to about 35% of the economically active population while the remaining 65% are not getting access to bank funding.

In an attempt to solve the above problems and in order to empower economically active poor, reduce the level of poverty in the world and to assist the micro small and medium scale industries, the microfinance bank was introduced.

Microfinance banks perform similar functions like commercial banks except for the size of their transactions.

The population of Nigeria and the size of the target customers/markets of microfinance banks, it cannot be over emphasized that the potentials of microfinance bank is huge and the profitability of the business is enormous (Solad Consulting Nigeria, Nov. 2008).

1.1    DEFINITION OF MICROFINANCE

Microfinance unless otherwise stated shall be constructed to mean any company licensed to carry on the financial services such as savings, loans, domestic fund transfers and other forms of services that economically active poor, micro enterprises and small and medium scale enterprises need to conduct or expand their business as defined by guidelines issued by CBN in exercise of powers conferred on it by the provisions of Section 28 sub-section (l)(b) of the CBN Act 24 of 1991 (as amended) and in pursuance of the provisions of section 56 – 60 of the Bofin Act 25 of 1991 (as amended).

1.2    ENTREPRENEURSHIP

An entrepreneur is a person of very high aptitude who pioneers change, organizes production and takes the risks associated with the production process. Entrepreneur can also be viewed as a person that wants to work for himself; it is sometimes synonymous with self-employment. Entrepreneurship therefore by implication is the act of being an entrepreneur, it involves all the activities and function undertaken by an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is believed to provide and important avenue for individuals to advance up the income ladder. For some, it may provide a better route than paid employment, while for others, who may be disadvantaged when pursuing paid employment, it may provide the only route. Entrepreneurs are charged with the responsibility of innovating new products, better production method, creation of markets and managing the production process. They are in a nutshell engaged in wealth creation. Financing therefore is needed by entrepreneurs to enable them carry out their function effectively.

1.3    OVERVIEW OF MICROFINANCE BANKS IN NIGERIA

Currently, microfinance banks are of two forms, as all licensed community banks in Nigeria that met CBN guidelines have been transformed to Microfinance Bank. The two forms of microfinance banks (MFBs) are:

(i)     Microfinance Banks licensed to operate as a unit. These are hitherto community banks licensed to operate branches and/or cash centres subject to meeting the prescribed prudential requirements and availability of free funds for opening branches/cash centres. The minimum paid-up capital for this category of banks is N20 million for each branch. The branching should be gradual within a local council before it spreads to other local councils and state.

(ii)    Microfinance Banks license to operate in a state. These are MFBs licensed to operate in all parts of the state at once without recourse to gradual coverage (spread) as m unit MFBs. Branches are opened subject to meeting the prescribed prudential requirements and availability of free funds. The minimum paid­-up capital for this category of banks is WI billion. About 600 Community Banks have migrated to Microfinance banks by January 1st, 2008 and there are several others that have been licensed to operate. (CBN, 2008).

1.4    BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF AWORI ­OTO AND IJANIKIN

The people of Awori migrated from Ile-Ife where their father Oduduwa was king.

The name Awori was derived from “Awowatirin”, an exclamation which emanated from “Ogunfunmire”, a great hunter.

Ogunfunmire left Ife in search of greener pasture as a hunter. After several consultation from the god of divination (Ifa), it was revealed that he was to embark on a journey. He was given a white dish and was told to place it on the river as he travels on, anywhere it sinks should be considered as a place for settlement.

Ogunfunmire heeded to the advice and embarked on the journey and did was he was told, when the dish sank, he exclaimed “Awowatinrin” meaning “our dish has sank”, this spot was at Isheri.

The people of Awori are scattered all over Lagos and Ogun States. They are also located at Oto and Ijanikin which are the researcher’s area of concentration. These two communities, have things in common that is, cultural, social and political inclination. Their major occupations are basket weaving, mat weaving, fishing, coconut plantation, etc. Their dialect is Awori. They have separate royal heads.

1.5    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The microfinance bank will be looked as a concept donating an arrangement of mobilizing idle funds available to the active poor community and channeling of funds for investment and development. Also, it aims at evaluating microfinance bank in the area of financial resource mobilization and provision of credit facilities of the rural dwellers. It shall critically appraise the impact of rural banking on rural saving.

1.6    METHOD OF RESEARCH AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The method of research is based on personal interview and questionnaire. It is assumed that this research would provide answers to the following questions.

(i)     What are the effects of the development of microfinance banks in Nigeria?

(ii)    Does the development of microfinance banks in Nigeria have any influence on the macro-economic variables?

(iii)   Does the activity of microfinance bank in Nigeria have any significant effect on the citizenry?

1.7     RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

(i)     Ho: There is no relationship between the development of microfinance bank and macro­economic variables.

H1: There is relationship between the development of microfinance bank and macro-economic variables.

(ii)    Ho: There is no significant effect of microfinance banks activity on the citizenry.

H1: There is significant effect of microfinance bank activities and the citizenry

(iii)   Ho: There is no relationship between the development of microfinance and economic growth and development.

H1: There is relationship between the development of microfinance banks and economic growth and development.

1.8 PROBLEM OF THE STUDY

Microfinance Banks (MFB) cannot engage in the following financial services.

(a)     Foreign exchange transactions

(b)    International commerce papers

(c)     International corporate finance

(d)    International electronic fund transfer

(e)     Cheque clearing activities

(f)      Entering into leasing, renting and sales/purchases of any kind with its director, officers, employees or persons who either individually or in concord with their family members own 5% of the equity of the MFB without the prior approval in writing of the Central Bank of Nigeria. (Solad Consulting Nig.)

1.8    DEFINITION OF BASIC TERMS

Some technical terms that will be used in the process of this study will be defined and clearly explained to eliminate misinterpretation and misunderstanding of research objectives. They are as follows:

(a)     Bank: This is an organisation that provides various financial services such as: keeping or landing money.

(b)    Rural banking: Can be seen as the business of accepting money deposits and giving out advances as well as performing other services to customers in rural areas.

(c)     Commercial bank: They are retail bankers that mobilize deposit on saving terms. Current account withdrawable by cheque and extend credit facilities to its needy.

(d)    Finance: This is a money set aside, used to run a business or to carry out a project.

(e)     Microfinance: It is seen as rendering financial services to the economically active poor in form of loans to enable them start income generating activities or expand their little business which include: saving, payment transfer, micro leasing and micro insurance.

(f)      Mobilization: An act of working together in order to achieve a particular aim.

(g)    Infrastructural facilities: Basic services that is needed or necessary In a community or organisation.