ABSTRACT

This research work was designed to determine the influence of graduate entrepreneurship fund (GEF) on youth economic inclusion. a case study of selected BOI beneficiaries in Awka L.G.A .   The objectives of the study includes to evaluate the services (financial & non-financial) rendered to the youths who are beneficiaries of GEF program, determine the effect of GEF program on graduate level of income after their participation in the GEF program, examine the efforts of GEF program in facilitating small scale enterprise among graduates, Identify challenges that limits graduates participation in the program. Descriptive survey research design was adopted using a simple random sampling to select one hundred respondents which structured questionnaire was administered. The data obtained were analyzed using simple percentage, mean and frequency tables. The study revealed that allocation of credit, provision of capital for small businesses and export promotion incentives are some of the services rendered to youths through the GEF program. Economic developments, conservation of foreign exchange, improved standard of living are the effort of GEF program in facilitating SMEs development among graduates. Lack of credit facilities, security issues, poor planning and poor state of country’s infrastructure are the challenges that limits graduate participation in the GEF program .Based on the findings,  it was recommended government should  encourage the growth of small business by giving them the necessary assistance as regards to fund raising and equally advise them on how to utilize it effectively and also ensure adequate provision of credit facilities through various financial institutions to aid entrepreneurship.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Title Page                                                                                          i

Certification Page                                                                              ii

Approval page                                                                                  iii

Dedication                                                                               iv

Acknowledgement                                                                             v

Abstract                                                                                            vi

Table of Contents                                                                    vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                           

1.1. Background of the Study                                                 1

1.2. Statement of the Problem                                                           4

1.3. Research Question                                                            6

1.3. Objective of the Study                                                      6

1.5. Significance of the study                                                  7

1.6. Scope of the study                                                            8                                             

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW                               

2.1. Concept of Entrepreneurship                                           9

2.2. Concept of Small and medium Enterprise              15

2.3. The Concept of Youth Economic Inclusion            18

2.4. Entrepreneur in Nigeria                                                    23

2.5. Historical Development of Small Scale Industries 24

2.6. Establishment of Bank of Industries (BOI)             28

2.7. The Roles and Importance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Economic Development                     30

2.8. Financial support given to Small and Medium

       Enterprises in Nigeria                                                       36

2.9. Challenges to the Entrepreneur in Nigeria              40

2.10. Empirical Review                                                           48

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLGOY AND DESIGN

3.1. Research Method                                                              53

3.2. Area of Study                                                                            53

3.3. Population of the Study                                                   55

3.4. Sampling Technique Sample Size Determination   55

3.5. Sources of Data                                                                57

3.6. Description of Data Collection Instrument             58

3.7. Validity of the Instrument                                                58

3.8. Reliability of the Instrument                                             59

3.9. Method of Data Analysis                                                           59

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1. Socio-economic Characteristics of the respondents                    63

4.1.1: Sex of respondents                                                        64

4.1.2 Age of respondents                                                        65

4.1.3 Marital Status                                                                66

4.1.4 Education Qualification                                                           67

4.1.5 Source of Capital                                                           68

4.1.6 Successful Application of Bank Loan                                      69

4.1.7 Sources of Raw Material                                                          70

4.2 Response of Respondents on the Services (Financial

 & Non-Financial) Rendered to Youths through GEF Progra                  71       

4.3 Effect of GEF Program on the Graduate Level of Income

    after Participation Youths through the GEF Program                         72

4.4 Effort of GEF Program in Facilitating SMEs Development

      among Graduates                                                                    74

4.5 Challenges that Limits Graduate Participation in

       the GEF Program                                                             75

4.6 Role of Agency towards the Development of SMEs                   76

4.6.1  Test of Hypothesis                                                       78

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION, CONCLUSION AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY                      

5.1. Summary of Findings                                                       82

5.2. Conclusions                                                                      85

5.3. Recommendations                                                                      86

5.4. Limitations                                                                       87

References                                                                               88

Appendix                                                                                93

CHAPTER ONE

1. 1. Background of the Study

The dynamic role of government agencies in the development of small and medium enterprises is an engine through which the growth and development objectives of developing nations can be achieved. These enterprises have a very important impact on the life of everybody in the society. The small independence businesses are everywhere and in every line of work; they can also be seen in every community. This business is as old as man. So virtually everything done in life involves the element of business small and medium enterprises constitute an importance in today’s business activities or system. Small and medium enterprise in our economic history however, has been one of the distribution and contribution (Akingunola, 2011).

        Basil (2005), stated that any effect towards the restructuring of the economy without particular emphasis on the development of small and medium scale business not likely to be successful in the long term. The fact that small and medium scale business determines the direction and the extent of development of the country’s economy make them very important organizations.

        Business in Nigeria today is made up of both large and small business. Today small scale enterprise have to enjoy more prestige than ever before because of its vital contribution to the Nation’s economy. Government agencies are charged with the responsibilities among others to carry out duties utilities as it may be regulated from time to time on behalf of government for the purpose of uplifting the standard of living (Aremu and Adeyemi, 2011).

        As a way of improving the lot of entrepreneurs in Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Bank of Industry (BOI) have a Graduate Entrepreneurship fund (GEF) scheme for corps members to aid them in launching the small and medium enterprises. While SMEs may not be large business that can provide employment to the nation’s youth on a large scale, a good number of these small scale business will ensure a steady growth in the economy. Money invest in SMEs will ultimately create a more developed economy as well as ensure even distribution of wealth (Adeoye, 2016). Bank of Industry is charged with the responsibility like provision of medium and long term finance by way of equity finding, loan and lease financing, guarantees, investment in corporate bonds business development services, co-financing, working capital finance and promotion of small and medium enterprises.

        The graduate entrepreneurship fund scheme has the following objectives:

• Encouraging graduates of tertiary institutions currently undergoing the compulsory one-year NYSC programme, to venture into business and become employers of labor rather than job seekers.
• Address the entrepreneurship capacity gap of the NYSC members who are expected to produce bankable business plans.
• Ensure sustainability of the business of the eventual load beneficiaries through effective monitoring by the NYSC Directorate and BOI (Olagunju, 2016).

1.2   Statement of Problem

Several studies have identified financial constraints as the major obstacle to good small and medium enterprise development in developing countries including Nigeria. most Government agencies have undergone numbers of re-organization especially bank of industry (BOI)  which affects their forces and activities that leads to effective performance and lack of proper control on their activities.

        The most obvious problems facing the society is the most basic economic problem such as what to produce, how much to produce, for whom to produce, how efficient of resources use or providing efficient financial resources technical assistance, how much to consume and save and problem of unemployed resources etc. security on loan given out to customer SMEs evaluating of project that are financed which may take more time than stated at the beginning.

        The project financing involves giving loan to a new entity established specially to own or operate project. On the part of small and medium enterprises (SMES) how effective are they utilizing the services rendered to them by the bank of industry (BOI). Also are they able to cope with the polices adopted by these agencies (BOI) in obtaining loan and other services rendered such as interest rate on capital collateral facilities and the role of government.

1.3   Research Question

Based on the subject matter, the researcher prefers to use the following questions for research findings;

1. What are the problems of small and medium scale enterprises business?
2. What are the roles of small and medium enterprises?
3. Are banks of industry the sole financier of small and medium enterprises?

1.4   Objective of the Study

      The broad objective of the study is to evaluate the influence of GEF on youth economic inclusion in Awka South LGA of Anambra State.

Specifically the study aim to:

1. Evaluate the services (financial & non-financial) rendered to the youths who are beneficiaries of GEF program
2. Determine the effect of GEF program on graduate level of income after their participation in the GEF program
3.  Examine the efforts of GEF program in facilitating small scale enterprise among graduates
4. Identify challenges that limits graduates participation in the program

1.5   Significance of the Study

The study is to serve as a reference material to other students or researchers such as scholars, the management, the general public, researchers and academic and banking professional body and other individuals who might be interested to write on or make research on similar topic and serve as recommendation to the bank of industry (BOI) in discharging its functions to their customer as well as mode of rendering services to the customers SMEs.

1.6   Scope of the Study

        This study will cover the area of activities and role played by the government agency (BOI) in developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their performance toward the economy.

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