Impact assessment of conventional and islamic microfinance and its implication on poverty alleviation in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the leading economies in Africa with vast oil reserve and abundant human and material resources at disposal. Despite these resources, poverty among the populace is widely spread. The national commission in Nigeria in 2012 reported that more than 75 million are trapped by poverty. Several efforts have been put forward at various points in time by successive governments, private entrepreneurs and other development partners to overcome the menace of poverty among the populace. Recently, microfinance becomes another mechanism through which poverty is being challenged and the last decade had witnessed tremendous contribution of microfinance institutions in various parts of the world. The main purpose of the study is to assess the availability, awareness, acceptance as well as the socioeconomic impacts of microfinance programmes on poverty alleviation in Northern Nigeria. The study used 400 samples drawn from the Islamic and conventional microfinance clients through simple random sampling technique. Self developed questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The findings show that both conventional and Islamic instruments are available in the microfinance institutions for clients irrespective of gender, geographical location and types of business engaged by the client. Moreover, Islamic products are accepted among clients engaged in different types of businesses. The findings also revealed that both conventional and Islamic microfinance affect the socio-economic well-being of clients thereby reducing poverty. Implications of the study for microfinance institutions, policy regulators as well as recommendations have been provided in line with the major findings.