ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine the profile of the technical support to Small Scale Enterprises by commercial banks.  In chapter one, the research looked at the background to the study, before formulating research questions where the objectives were extracted from.  Chapter two focused on the various literatures that were written about technical support to SMEs by commercial banks.  In chapter three, the research design and sampling method was revealed, a primary source of data collection which is the questionnaire was to be made used of.  The statistical procedure to be used for the analysis of the data was the percentage and frequency table.  In chapter four, after drafting 200 questionnaires, 150 were appropriately answered and returned.  Percentage analysis was conducted.  Finally, in chapter five, the findings include that SMEs are not adequately supported by commercial banks

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

          Industrial and economic development is fostered not by few large scale industries but by numerous small-scale industries which have the capacity to provide employment and aid economic growth.  Small-scale industries have been fully recognized by governments and development experts as the main engine of economic growth and a major factor in promoting private sector development and partnership.

The development of small-scale industries is therefore an essential element in the growth strategy of most economies and holds particular significance for Nigeria.  Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) not only contribute significantly to improve living standards, they also bring about substantial local capital formation and achieve high level of productivity and capacity utilization.

          From a planning stand point, SMEs are increasingly recognized as the principal means for achieving equitable and sustainable industrial diversification and dispersal; and in most countries SMEs account for well over half of the total share in terms of employment.  A major gap in Nigeria’s industrial development process in the past years has been the absence of a strong and virile small and medium scale enterprise.

The little progress recorded from the courageous efforts of the first generation of indigenous industrialists were almost completely wiped out by massive dislocation and traumatic devaluation which took place under the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).  The policies of SAP are rooted in the neo-classical theory of perfect competitive markets whose assumptions do not adequately inflect constraints on SMEs in developing countries.

            With the dismantling of trade and other barriers, the world has been transformed into a global village.  Consequently, SMEs in developing countries are struggling to survive under intense competitive environment for the development of SMEs so that they could adequately play the role expected of them in economic transformation such role includes; mobilization of domestic savings for investment, appreciable contribution to gross domestic product, increase harnessing of local raw materials, employment generation, significant contribution to poverty reduction efforts through sustainable livelihood and enhancement of personal income, technological development and export diversification.  This will be made possible through a responsive industrial policy and government overall economic development strategies that will ensure the collaboration of all development partners and the effective coordination and utilization of economic resources.

SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISE DEFINED

          Industry is the collection of firms producing similar or related product.  Firms constitute industries and these firms may be regarded as enterprise.

            There is no single universally accepted definition of small-scale enterprise.  Definition tends to vary from one country to another.  In the same country, definitions also vary from one time period to another.  What is small in one country may not be small in another country.  Most definitions however use size of employment, the amount of capital investment, annual sales turn over, total assets or a combination of both.

            Different government agencies have defined SMEs in a number of ways and these definitions by the various government agencies are enumerated below:

I.       The Federal Ministry of Industry defines SMEs as that in which the value of total assets including working capital but excluding cost of land does not exceed N150,000 or where the number of paid employees does not exceed 50 people.

II.    Nigeria bank for commerce and industry (NBCI) 1985 defines small-scale enterprise as firms with assets (including working capital but excluding cost of land) not exceeding N750,000.

III. Company and Allied Matters Decree (1990) defines small-scale enterprise as one with annual turn over of not more than N1 million.

IV. Nigeria Industrial Policy (1989) defines small scale enterprise as those with total investment of between N100,000 and N2,000,000 excluding land but including working capital.

In the current industrial policy of Nigeria, National Council of Industry (NCI) defines SMEs in terms of the following:

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