Mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this study is to investigate ways of Mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi. Sample size of 270 was drawn from the population of 828 registered companies in Benue State in which a total of two hundred and seventy (270) copies of the questionnaire were administered out of which two hundred and forty (240) copies representing (89%) of the questionnaire were properly completed and retrieved while thirty (30) copies representing (11%) were not retrieved. The instruments used to gather information for this study includes both primary and secondary sources. The main instrument of data collection was the questionnaire. The data were presented in tables as frequency distribution in the data analysis, the techniques of percentage frequencies were used. The hypothesis was tested with chi-square method at 5% significance level. Having analysed the data, the following were the major findings, that there is improper implementation of its policies towards small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria; that small and medium scale enterprises provide effective means of stimulating indigenous entrepreneurship; that poor management practices, financial problems, lack of capital, lack of infrastructural facilities etc, hinder the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. The study concludes that the role played by the government towards promotion and development of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria is highly effective, in the sense that government supported small and medium scale enterprises through favourable investment policies, institutional and fiscal policy, protective business law and financial incentives; that small and medium scale enterprises had immensely contributed to the economic growth and development in Nigeria for they have been recognized as indispensable components of national development in both developed and developing economies; that there are various confronting constraints to the development of small and medium scale enterprises such as lack of planning, inimical government regulations, poor marketing strategies etc; that there is significant support given to small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria by government and other individual bodies. Hence, it therefore recommends that government should ensure that there will be no improper implementation of its policies towards small and medium scale enterprises and should not in the area of incentive and infrastructural development neglect business activities to facilitate small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. That government should also adequately support small and medium scale enterprises financially to avoid lack of capital. Moreso, small and medium scale enterprises should ensure that they solve their internal problems which hinder the success of the small and medium scale enterprises. For instance, they should ensure that there is effective management practices or expertise, effective accounting standards, adequate manpower and avoid financial indiscipline and corruption in order to boost their performances.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background to the study
The economic development institutions in Nigeria’s economy recognized the importance of micro, small, and medium enterprises: most importantly, being the largest segment of the economy. Economic development institutions that also regulate the economic activities such as the central bank of Nigeria (CBN) and small and medium enterprises development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) are institutions that regulate and support the development of the country’s economy and are of the view SME’s provide employment opportunities to citizens. A study by the researchers suggested that small and medium enterprises employ more than 80% of Nigeria’s workforce (SMEDAN, 2013). Another study found that 97% of Nigeria’s economy to be small and medium enterprises, and job opportunities provided by SMEs in the country is at 70% mark (Shehu, A. M., Aminu, I. M., NikMat, N. K., Nasiru, A., Johnson, P. O., Tsagem, M. M., & Kura, K. M., 2013). Various leaders have tried policies to move the country out of poverty through the provision of employment but to no avail. Recent studies show that the unemployment rate is at its highest. The importance of small business is therefore practical in Nigeria’s economy: it employs the citizens, gave the citizens a livelihood, reduce poverty in the economy, and help in the growth of the economy. A study suggested that over 80% of small businesses failed within the first five years. Despite the considerable contribution of small businesses in Nigeria’s economy, small businesses face massive failure, which is attributed to critical challenges mitigating their survival.
Although small and medium scale enterprises (SMES) are seen as veritable engines of economic development, the growth and development of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria have been slow and in some cases even stunted, due to a number of problems and challenges confronting this all-important sub-sector of the economy. Some of the problems highlighted in the body of literature as being responsible for the slow growth and development of the small and medium scale enterprises include: deplorable infrastructural facilities funding and financing challenges; inadequate managerial and entrepreneurial skills; corruption and lack of transparency arising from government regulation and regulators etc.
It had been argued that the most disturbing among these challenging is funding, but concedes that most new small business enterprises are not attractive prospects for banks as they want to minimize their risk profile. Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Africa have therefore been found to rely largely on own savings, not only to grow, but also to innovate, whereas firms often need real services support and formal finance assistance, failing which under investment in long term capabilities (Training and R & D) may result on the other hand, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria had been blamed for poor performance on management practices, poor access to finds, low equity participation from stakeholders, poor infrastructural facilities, shortage of skilled manpower, multiplicity of regulating agencies and the over-bearing operating environment, societal and attitudinal problems, little access to markets and lack of access to information.
Various researches were made, which resulted in identifying the many challenges facing small businesses. The paper presented the many critical challenges that negated the survival and growth of small businesses in the Nigerian economy, as presented by many scholars. Using the multi-case qualitative study, managers of successful small businesses narrated in an interview the tools, policies, and strategies they used to mitigate the identified challenges. The study answered the central question: what are the tools, policies, and strategies used by managers of successful small businesses to mitigate the challenges facing their firms?
However, this project work examines the respective strengths and drawbacks associated with the historical trends and efforts at developing small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. It identifies and analyses the opportunities provided for the promotion of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Here, this study titled “Mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi.” cannot come at a better time.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The Nigerian National economy is characterized by mirage of problems which has constituted a sleepless night to developmental oriented governance. The most disturbing problems are that government has not played a favourable role towards the promotion and development of small and medium scale enterprises, in the sense that government creats unfavourable fiscal policy inconsistencies and lack of the infrastructural facilities by the government, which have stunted and stagnated the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. small and medium scale enterprises are seen as a veritable engines of economic development, but the growth and development of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria have been slow and in some cases even stunted, due to a number of problems and challenges confronting this all-important sub-sector of the economy. Some of these problems includes: financial problems, poor management expertise, poor accounting system, lack of materials etc, which the researcher tends to find solution to them. More so, in Nigeria, most small and medium scale enterprises are folding up or lack competitiveness because they lack the much required financial capacity to prosecute their manufacturing concern. Thus this study aims to examine the prospects of Mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to identify and consequently analyze the most effective and efficient way through which small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) could be financed and promoted, thereby taking into consideration of various conditions such as economic, political, social, psychological etc. under which small and medium scale enterprises are encouraged to operate. In so doing this the researcher intends giving and in-depth information and analysis on the various strategies through which small and medium scale enterprises can be developed and encouraged.
In view of the above the researcher intends to:
(i) Assess the role played by government towards Mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi. Nigeria.
(ii) To identify the economic potential of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria.
(iii) To identify the constraints confronting the development of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria.
(iv) To examine the financial support given to small and medium scale enterprises by government and other individual bodies.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This study when completed will be a valuable help to various stakeholders for implementations with the concerned efforts of all and sundry including: governments at all levels, SME promoters etc.
Policy makers: It guides them in making policies and regulations that will create enabling environment for small and medium scale enterprises.
SMEs: This study will enable them to identify the problems confronting the development of small and medium scale enterprises.
Investors/Entrepreneurs: It will enable them to know what they expected of government in the promotion of small and medium scale enterprises. It will also enable them to know the cost involvement in establishing the small and medium scale enterprises.
Companies: They will also benefit from this study, since they are interested in the overall success, operational and financial efficiency evaluation of the firm.
Student/Researchers: This study will also be a benefit to them, since they are curious in studying or knowing more about the topic and in their research work.
The purpose of the paper is to provide owners and managers of small businesses with necessary information about the challenges facing small businesses and present the possible tools, policies, and strategies to mitigate them. Mitigating the challenges of small businesses in Nigeria will result in an improved number of successful small businesses in Nigeria. An improved number of successful small businesses will result in increased employment rate and reduction of poverty in the Nigerian economy.
1.5 Research Questions
These are well structured questions designed to guide the researcher in data collection and whose answers provide solutions to the problem(s) under investigation. At the back of the mind of the investigator is the question: would answers to those questions provide solutions to the perceived problem being studied following our topic the researcher could raise the following research questions.
- How do we assess the role played by the government towards mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi?
- What impacts do small and medium scale enterprises create to Nigeria’s economic growth?
- What are the constraints confronting the development of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria?
- What is the trend of the financial support given to small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
Like research questions, hypotheses help to provide direction and facilitate the collection of data and its subsequent analysis and conclusion inference. Unlike research questions, hypotheses are structured differently. They are not posed as questions. Rather, they are stated as a possible solution(s) to the observed problem.
Here, in the research work, the following hypotheses are formulated by the researcher.
- The role played by government towards mitigating the challenges faced by small and medium sized companies in Makurdi is highly effective.
- Small and medium scale enterprises have immensely contributed to the economic growth in Nigeria.
1.7 Scope of the Study
Because the researcher could not be able to cover the whole of Nigerian small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). The researcher narrowed it down to the number of registered small and medium scale enterprises in Makurdi metropolis where the sample size was determined. This study covered the problems and prospects of some selected small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
Certain limitations were encountered in the course of this study, key among these includes:
Unavailability of Data
One of the greatest challenges the researcher encountered in this study relates to access to and collection of hard data due to extreme data gaps and pan city. This compelled the researcher to limit the study to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, thus excluding cottage and micro enterprises whose challenges through comparable could be fundamentally different from those of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).
Time and Funds
Another limitation of this study relates to time, funds and logistics constraints, which limited the intensity of the spread or are of coverage of the study.
Resistance of Respondents
The researcher was also limited by the reluctance of some respondents to complete them at all.
1.9 Definition of Terms
- Medium Enterprise: Company with total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is above hundred million naira (300,000,000) and a staff strength of between seventy-one (71) and two hundred (200) full time workers and with an annual turnover of more than twenty million naira (20,000,000).
- Small Enterprise: An enterprise whose total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is between ten million naira (10,000,000) and one hundred million naira (100,000,000) and workforce between eleven (11) and seventy (70) full time staff and a turnover of not more than ten million naira (10,000,000) in a year.
- Large Enterprise: Any enterprise whose total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is above three hundred million naira (300,000,000) and a labour force of over two hundred (200) workforce and an annual turnover of more than twenty million naira (20,000,000).
- Micro Enterprise: A firm, whose total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is not more than ten million naira (10,000,000) and/or with a labour size of not more than thirty (30) full time workers and/or a turnover of less than two million naira (2,000,000).
- Economic Growth: This means the enhancement of profit generated by the designed economic resources of a nation or individual.
- Entrepreneur: This means a person who organizes and manages a commercial understanding.
- Investor: This is a person who commits fund into business undertaken with a view of financial return.
- Management: This is seen as the process of getting things done through other people who involves planning, controlling and decision making.
- Government: This could mean the body of persons governing a state.
- Business Firm: This means a business organization in which an individual or group of individuals organizes and operates to have profit in return.
- Financial Institution: This could be a financial system of any country’s set of institutional and other arrangements put in place for the transfer of savings from those who generate them to those who ultimately use them for investment or consumption.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR TOPIC, CLICK HERE TO HIRE A WRITER»
