Cogent Social Sciences (Jan 2020)
Sustainable financial access for female entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector in Nigeria
Abstract
Challenges to accessing credit by the women or female entrepreneurs (FEs) have been observed to be demand-induced rather than supply constrained. This paper attempts to determine the issues that constrain financial access of FEs with the basic objective of achieving a sustainable access over the long term among the micro and the small and medium female entrepreneurs. The study undertook collection of data via questionnaire of FEs who operate in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector through the microfinance banks’ (MfBs) and institutions’ (MfIs) support. The basic variables were savings, loan conditions, business registration and the number of banks accounts operated by FEs among others. Four models estimating the determinants of access for now and the future were estimated with ordinary least squares regression. The results indicate that easier loan conditions are required to assist the FEs in achieving sustainable credit access, as it was significantly negative in two of the models while compulsory savings deposits should be less emphasized. This indicates that there is the need to invest more in their enterprises for growth. Credit access is enhanced also by the regular use of the institutions for financial transactions. Finally, that targeted education is positively significant in savings shows that the there is need for continuous education of the business female folk at all levels. The study recommends that FEs should invest their surplus cash more in their businesses rather than save so much but should open accounts and intensively operate such accounts.
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