ABSTRACT

The


introduction of microfinance banks in Nigeria is the inability of Nigerian


Deposit Money Banks to provide sufficient financial service to the rural poor.


Microfinance banks have taken up the challenges of the gap created by the


Nigerian Deposit Money Banks. Microfinance banks can be seen as an economic


growth method intended to advantage the low income part of a given country like


Nigeria, both rural poor and urban poor. The objective of this study is to


determine the impact of microfinance on rural transformation in Nigeria. The


methodology used by the researcher was descriptive research. The findings of


the study shows that micro-finance has impacted positively on the rural poor by


providing loans and advances for agriculture, investment opportunities, savings


mobilization and credit delivery; asset financing and community development


financing. Despite the achievements of microfinance in transforming the rural


areas they have been met with stiff difficulties like repayment problem,


illiteracy among the poor and inadequate or non-monitoring of micro and small


enterprises by the micro financial institutions. The following recommendations


were made to address the issues: To match products to customer needs,


examination of cash flows and repayment cycles, broaden the range of products


and services to the poor and regulatory authorities should look closer to the


activities of the microfinance banks.

TABLE OF


CONTENT

Title page                                                                                                     i

Certification                                                   


                                             ii

Dedication                                                    


                                               iii

Acknowledgement                                                                              iv

Abstract                                                                                  


          v

Table of Content                                                                                          vi

CHAPTER


ONE

1.0    Introduction

>1.1       

Background to the Study

>1.2       


Statement of the Problem

1.3       


Objectives of the Study

1.4       


Research Hypotheses

>1.5       


Scope of the Study

1.7    Significance of the Study

1.8    justification of the study

>1.9       


Definition of relevant Terminology

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review

>2.1   Introduction

2.2   Assessment  of Rural Sustainable Development by Micro-Finance


Banks in Nigeria

2.2.1       >Impact

of Microfinance on Rural Agricultural Transformation

2.2.2         Overview


of Microfinance Activities in Nigeria

2.2.3         Microfinance Policies and Goals

2.3    Agricultural

Financing Policies and Rural Development in Nigeria

2.3.1 Reasons for Government Policies on the


Financing of Agriculture

bold">

2.3.2         Overview


of the Agricultural Finance Policies in Nigeria

>2.4   Assessing Agricultural Policies in Relation to Rural


Development

2.5   Challenges


of Agricultural Financial Policies

2.6   Theoretical




Framework

2.6.1


Microfinance Policy Initiative in Nigeria

2.6.2Justification

for the Establishment of Microfinance Banks.

2.7    Empirical


Review

2.8    Conceptual Framework

">CHAPTER THREE

3.0    RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1    Introduction

>3.2    Area of study

>3.3    Population of the study and

3.4    Research Design

>3.5    Sample


and >Sampling


Technique

3.6    Instrument of Data Collection

3.7    Reliability and VALIDITY of the Instruments

3.8    Data


Collection Procedures

3.9    Method of Data Analysis

>CHAPTER FOUR:

4.1    Data presentation

>4.2    Summary of responses

>4.3    Test of hypothesis

CHAPTER FIVE: ">

5.1    Summary of Findings >5.2    Conclusion

">5.3    Recommendations

">5.4    Suggestions for


further research studies

References

Appendices