THE ROLE OF BANK IN SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IN NIGERIA

The research study examines the role of commercial bank in financing small scale enterprises in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The primary purpose of the study is to examine how SMEs can be developed through the intervention of the banking sector. Descriptive research design was adopted. The population of the study is the entire SMEs in Akwa Ibom state and United Bank for Africa (UBA). Questionnaires were used as an instrument of primary data collection. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample; correlation analysis was employed using chi-square. Findings revealed that there is a positive correlation between loans grants by banks and the growth and development of SMEs in Akwa Ibom State also, that SMEs cannot be concentrated in Akwa Ibom State if they are not effectively financed due to the relationship that exists between the banks and SMEs. It was recommended that guidelines/schemes by commercial banks to finance SMEs needs to be flexible to accommodate the small and medium scale  entrepreneurs.
 
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0     Background to the Study
The post-independence Nigerian government adopted the entrepreneurship government which constrained it to assume the role of entrepreneur and the urge to offset the economic neglect of the colonial government and that resulted in engaging in ambitious industrialization programmes. When the Nigerian industrial Development Bank Limited (NIDB) was established in 1964 for the purpose of speeding up the industrialization process, its mandate was to promote industrial projects which were large enough to make applicable contribution to the national economy. However, the collapse of the oil boom in the early 1980’s exposed the inherent weaknesses of this importation of inputs resulted in large idle capacities, thereby creeping many gross domestic product (GDP) declined in the face of the strong national aspiration for the restructuring of the economy and reduction of the dependence on petroleum. Small and medium scale enterprises have since become the focus of national industrial policy. In  pursuit  of  self-reliance  in  a  developing  country  particularly  in  Nigeria,  the  central government enacted a decree called “Enterprises promotion Decree” when there was need for small scale enterprises in the promotion of economic development. This has since been at the fore front of development strategies.