Impact of Microcredit Scheme on Entrepreneurial Development in North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the impact of microcredit schemes on the entrepreneurial development in the North-western Nigeria. The study investigated the microcredit scheme policy components and their relationship with the development of entrepreneurship in the region. The study employed both descriptive survey and correlational research methodology in a sample of 418 respondents, using data collected from primary sources through structured questionnaires. The study found that the microcredit schemes’ loan terms and conditions has an insignificant positive relationship with entrepreneurship development in the North-western zone of Nigeria. The microcredit schemes activities has positively improved entrepreneurship development in the Northwest geopolitical zone, and the result is statistically significant. The results also suggests that, the microcredit schemes’ job creation has positively improved entrepreneurship development in the Northwest geopolitical zone, and the result is statistically significant. The microcredit schemes’ productivity has positively improved entrepreneurship development in the Northwest geopolitical zone, but the result is not statistically significant. The findings also show that, the microcredit schemes’ service quality has positively improved entrepreneurship development in the Northwest geopolitical zone, and the result is statistically significant. The study recommends that government in Nigeria should review its National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises by making it compulsory for microfinance institutions and other related programmes to provide full scale Business Development Services support in order to sustain the growth of supported businesses in the Northwest geopolitical zone. The policy makers should also increase budgets and supporting programs to the microcredit sector in the Northwest geopolitical zone. The limitation of the study has to do with the domain of the study as well as the complimentary use of both primary and secondary data which increased the robustness of the findings. The study therefore suggest that future research should focus on the role of microcredit schemes in technological development of entrepreneurship in Nigeria.