ABSTRACT
The focus of this research is on the
impact of financial literacy on the profitability of some small scale
enterprises in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State. An enquiry into their
level of adoption of financial literacy was also studied. A review of related
literatures was carried out to examine the extent of work done in the field. A
carefully structured questionnaire was used to collected data on the level of
adoption of financial literacy and also a financial literacy test. Stratified
random sampling was adopted to divide the small scale enterprises into ten (10)
strata, thereafter random sampling technique was employed. A sample of one
hundred and fifty (150) respondents was used to carry out the study, which
encompasses the different strata. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and
Dependent T-test at 5% level of significance was used in the analysis of the
research data. The result shows that the level of adoption of financial
literacy by small scale enterprises in Calabar Municipality is low and that
utilization of accounting records significantly influences their profitability.
Thus, conclusion, recommendations and suggestions for further studies were
proffered.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
TITLE
PAGE
CERTIFICATION
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
LIST
OF TABLES
LIST
OF FIGURES
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the study
1.2
Statement of the problem
1.3
Objectives of the study
1.4
Research questions
1.5
Research hypothesis
1.6
Scope and limitation of the study
1.7
Significance of the study
1.8
Organization of the study
1.9
Operational definition of terms
1.10
Historical background of small scale
enterprises
CHAPTER
TWO
LITERATURE
REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1
Theoretical framework
2.2
Theories about variables (dependent and
independent)
2.3
Concept and definition of financial
literacy
2.4
Determinants of financial literacy
2.5
Importance of financial literacy
2.6
Financial literacy basics for
prospective
Small-business owners
2.7
Nature of small scale enterprises
2.8
Roles of small scale enterprises in the
development of
Nigeria
2.9
Problems and challenges facing small
scale enterprises
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1
Research design
3.2
Population of the study and method of
Population determination
3.3
Sample and sample size determination
3.4
Sampling procedure and sampling
technique
3.5
Method of data collection and data
sources
3.6
Instrument development
3.7
Instrument validation
3.8
Instrument reliability test
3.9
Model specification
CHAPTER
FOUR
DATA
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1
Data presentation
4.2
Data analysis
4.3
Test of hypothesis
4.4
Discussion of findings
CHAPTER
FIVE
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Summary of findings
5.2
Conclusion
5.3
Recommendations
5.4
Suggestion for further studies
References
Appendix
LIST OF
TABLES
TABLES
4.1: Distribution of questionnaire and response
rate
4.2: Distribution of respondent according to
Gender
4.3: Distribution of respondent according to Age
4.4: Distribution of respondent according to
Marital Status
4.5: Distribution of respondent according to
Academic Qualification
4.6: Extent to which financial literacy is
adopted by small scale
businesses
4.7: Extent to which accounting records enhance
the profitability of
small scale enterprises
4.8: problems that hinder utilization of
accounting records
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE
1: Conceptual model of financial literacy
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the study
Like little drops of water
that forms a mighty ocean, the littleness of small scale businesses from the
cradle has been the bedrock of industrialization in developing countries of the
world. Globally, small scale enterprises have contributed enormously in
improving the standard of living of the people by providing jobs to relieve the
society of social embarrassment, stimulating indigenous entrepreneurship and
utilizing scarce resources.
Presently, as part of
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), effort is being made to reduce poverty
rate in developing countries. Effort is also being made to reduce the reliance
of people on government and so-called ‘white collar jobs’. These are achieved
through the growth and development of small scale enterprises (Eneh, 2007).
Furthermore, small scale enterprises play important roles in the economic
growth and development of every nation. They are a veritable vehicle for the
achievement of national macro-economic objectives in terms of employment
generation at low investment cost and enhancement of apprenticeship training.
Financial literacy as
the name implies occupies a centre-stage in the quest to achieve an overall
degree of success in an organization, (Bernheim, 2008). It also enhances to a
reasonable degree, a business goal of financial profit. Thus, financial
literacy (or lake thereof) has played a key role in the success and failure of
our nations business for the past centuries. Companies and businesses have
therefore been charged with ensuring that adequate and proper books of accounts
are kept so as to ensure reliability of their financial statements. This will
in the long run help improve their level of profitability.
Furthermore, profit can
analogously be viewed as the life-blood of a business and hence the accounting
bases, concepts and principles adopted ought to capture and report all the
relevant information to ensure reliability in its measurement (Nelson and
Onias, 2011). Also Enikanselu and Oyende (2009) made it clear that no business
can run effectively without being financially literate and also having one form
of accounting records or the other. It
can therefore be deduced that appropriate financial literacy is important for a
successful management of any business, whether big or small.
Consequently, suffice
is to say that it is crucial that financial literacy be encouraged among small
scale enterprises so as to enable them be able to supply complete and relevant
financial information needed to improve on decisions made by them, and to also
enhance their profitability. This research study therefore examines financial
literacy and its impact on profitability of small scale enterprises.
1.2
Statement
of the problem
Since the present
civilian administration came into being in 1999, it has put in place policy
measures, schemes and support schemes to develop the small scale enterprise
sub-sector and to increase its performance.
In
today’s Nigeria, small scale enterprises have not performed creditably well and
they have not played expected significant role in spite of the fact that they
have been regarded as the bulwark for employment generation and technological
development.
First
and foremost is the problem associated with small scale enterprises lack of
financial literacy which is evident in their inability to keep complete
accounting records. This invariably has resulted into a situation where SSEs
operating in the state cannot capture adequately the business profit. This is
because in the process of calculating profit, financial data are assembled in a
way that can help make informed judgment and take decisions about the business.
These financial data can not be assembled without adequate financial literacy.
This problem has ultimately affected the profitability of small scale
businesses.
In
addition to the above is SSEs lack of awareness of financial risk and
opportunities, reckless expenditure, use of business funds for personal
transactions, limited access to bank credit facilities and insurance policies.
These and many can be addressed by being financially literate.
Henceforth,
the researcher believes that these inherent problems could be attributed to the
neglect of financial literacy by small scale enterprises in Cross River State.
1.3
Objectives
of the study
The main objective of
this study is to clearly promote financial literacy as a tool to improving on
the profitability of small scale enterprises in Calabar municipality of Cross
River State. The specific objectives of the study are as follows:
·
To examine the extent to which financial
literacy is adopted by small scale enterprises in Calabar Municipality.
·
To determine the extent to which
accounting records enhance the profitability of small scale enterprises.
·
To ascertain the problems that hinders
the utilization of accounting records by small scale enterprises.
1.4 Research questions
The
study developed the following research questions that will guide the researcher
in the quest to finding solutions to these research problems:
§ To
what extent is financial literacy adopted by small scale enterprises in Calabar
Municipality?
§ To
what extent does accounting records enhance the profitability of small scale
enterprises?
§ What
are the problems that hinder the utilization of accounting records by small
scale enterprises?
1.5 Research hypothesis
In order to set a good base for carrying out the research, the
following hypotheses were posed, believing that by the time adequate answers
have been provided, the study would have covered necessary grounds. To achieve
this, the study seeks to test the following two (2) operational hypotheses
outlined in null form:
1.
Ho: The level of adoption of financial
literacy by small
scale enterprise is low.
2.
Ho: The utilization of accounting
records does not significantly influence
the profitability of small scale enterprises.
1.6 Scope and limitations of the study
With a large
percentage of businesses in the state falling within the small scale
enterprises sub-sector, the need to clearly define the scope and area of the
study becomes imperative.
The
study is therefore confined to the small scale enterprises operating in Calabar
Municipality of Cross River State, and yet it is easy to use the result of this
research to gain insight into the entire small scale enterprises.
Calabar
Municipality has been chosen because of its peaceful nature and the serene
vicinity, as it is a necessary panacea for the survival of the business and
also for this study. Thus, all the necessary information needed for this study
will be collected from this region of the state.
·
Limitation
of the study
A study of this nature could not have been carried
out without any hitch. Notable among the constraints was the paucity of
relevant empirical literature in finance literacy among small scale
enterprises. Empirical information on problems of small scale enterprises are
abundant in literature but work done on their financial literature is still
scanty and that was a serious limitation to the study.
Despite this challenge, this study still represents
a true picture of all that was obtained from small scale businesses in Calabar
municipality metropolis.
1.7 Significance of the study
Given the vital role
and contribution which small scale businesses in developed and developing
countries make, and considering the ongoing reforms by the Central Bank of
Nigeria for a sustainable financial literacy framework for small and medium
scale enterprises in the country, the significance of this study cannot be over
emphasized.
The significance of
this study therefore lies in the attempt to document the factor that is truly
critical to the profitability of small scale enterprises but which have not been
appreciated, recognized or factored into the various incentives schemes and
policy measures being put up for SSEs in the state and the nation at large.
This critical factor is financial literacy among SSEs which is a pivotal
requirement to its success and profitability.
In addition, this
research will equip owners of small scale enterprises by encouraging them to
give the keeping of proper accounting records a greater priority in the
objectives of their business. With this, adequate information about the
profitability of the business will be accurately known.
Also awareness will be
created by this study on the urgent need to improve on the financial literacy
level of SSEs owners as well as to improve on their accounting practices. This
will help formalize their business operations in a way that will suit their
little nature.
Furthermore, apart from
the result of the study contributing to the “knowledge bank” of small scale
enterprises, it will stimulate more researches into this area since from
research literature work in this field is still minimal.
Lastly, it will be my
pre-requisite for the award of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in
Accounting.
1.8 Organization of the study
This study is presented
in five (5) chapters. These chapters are organized in a sequential manner that
will aid careful investigation and easy achievement of the objectives.
Chapter one is a
preview of the background of the study and the problem(s) that necessitated the
research. This leads to the outline of the objectives, significant of the
study, research questions and operational hypothesis within the sample scope of
small scale enterprises in Calabar Municipality of Cross River State.
Chapter two presents
the review of relevant works as it relates to the study. Also, theories about
the dependent and independent variables were discussed. It also examines the
theoretical framework of financial literacy and small scale enterprises.
Chapter three reveals
the methods of data collection in relation to the research design, population
and sample with emphasis on the model specification, estimation, validation and
reliability of research instrument.
Chapter four presents
and analyses the data and also the findings, dealing with the extent to which
small scale enterprises adopt financial literacy and conversely the utilization
of accounting records by SSEs and its influence on profitability.
Chapter five summarizes
major findings from the study, recommends tentative policy thrust and also
states suggested areas of further research.