新作坊

AN APPRAISAL OF THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN SOUTHWESTERN STATE OF OSUN IN NIGERIA.

摘要：

This study is an appraisal of the performance of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) on poverty alleviation in Osun State of Nigeria. The broad aim of the study is to examine the impact of the small and medium scale enterprises on poverty alleviation. The other objectives of the study will also be to determine if there exists a relationship between poverty alleviation and SMEs and identify factors in hindering the performance and development of SMEs in Osun state in particular and Nigeria in general. It is an empirical study which made use of both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Questionnaires were administered on 150 randomly selected SMEs through balloting in the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the area office of Osun state. The respondents include SMEs operators as small shop owners, pure and bottled water, bread making factories, hairdressing, fashion designing shops, business centre. Literatures on the subject area were copiously sourced from relevant books, journals and government publications. The study found out that the SMEs were making impact on alleviating the level of poverty in the state in spite of the non-cooperative attitude and excessive paper works of formal banks. The various sources of funds by the SMEs operators were Microfinance banks, Loans from friends and family, personal loans and contributions. The respondents remarked that the agency created by government such as Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has been unable to impact on SMEs development in Osun state due to the ineptitude in service delivery and corruption which has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigeria system. The study suggested that if the SMEs sector is given all the necessary assistance such as seed money, loanable funds and training programmes, Poverty which is due to lack of access to income earning opportunities and lack of capacity to take advantage of the opportunities, that is threatening global prosperity in general and national economic growth and development in particular would be taken care off. It concluded that SMEDAN was unable to achieve the vision for which it was established such as establishing a structured and efficient micro, small and medium enterprises sector that will enhance sustainable economic development of Nigeria in general. However inspite of the failure of this government agency the SMEs had been able to impact on the poverty level in the state.