AN APPRAISAL OF PERFORMANCE OF SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM ANAMBRA SOUTH SENATORIAL ZONE, ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT This study examines an appraisal of the performance of small scale enterprises in community development; evidence from Anambra South senatorial zone, Anambra state. Specifically, the study provides the reasons for going into SMEs; sources of financing SMEs; role of SMEs in community development and factors militating against SMEs in community development. The researchers distributed 143 questionnaires to the respondents that make up the sample size. The research questions were answered using mean rating under the modified four-point likert scale.The result of the investigation reveals that SMEs play the following role in community development: Generation of employment; Service provision; Improve living standards and poverty alleviation. Consequently this study therefore recommends that: government should re-introduce the small business credit scheme so that beneficiaries can use them to run the micro, small and medium enterprises; government, chamber of commerce and other non-governmental organization should regularly organize seminars for potential and actual small and medium enterprise operators where they should be educated on how to plan, organize, direct and control their businesses there should also be a reintroduction of soft loans for small and medium business by the government and financial institution to enhance the performance of SMEs in community development.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval pagei Dedicationii Acknowledgementiii Outline page             vi Abstract           1
CHAPTER:  INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Of The Study2 1.2 Statement of  The Problem4 1.3 Purpose of the Study/Objective Of The Study6 1.4 Research Questions6 1.5 Statement Of The Research Hypothesis 6 1.6 Organization Of The Study 7 1.7 Significance of the Study7 1.8 Limitation of the Study7
CHAPTER TWO:  LITERATURE REVIEW  2.1 Conceptual Issues on SMEs8 2.2 Government Intervention Policies10 2.3 Reasons for Going into SMEs 13 2.4 Sources of Financing SMEs 14 2.5 Role of SMEs in Community Development 21 2.6 Factors Militating Against SMEs in Community Development 22 2.7. Theoretical Framework            23
CHAPTER THREE:  METHODOLOGY 3.1 Design of the Study  28 3.2 Area of Study  28 3.3 Population of the Study            29 3.4 Instrument for Data Collection  30 3.5 Method of Data Collection  30 3.6 Validation of the Instrument  31 3.7 Method of Data Analysis 31 3.8 Limitation of the Study.32
CHAPTER FOUR:  DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 4.1 Introduction  34 4.2 Respondents’ Characteristics  34 4.3 Analysis of the Research Questions  38
CHAPTER FIVE:  SUMMARY ,CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 5.1 Summary 44 5.2 Conclusion 44 5.3 Recommendations 45 References47 Appendix51