IMPACT OF MICROCREDIT ON ASSET BASE AND INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES OF THE POOR IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study empirically examined the impact of the micro intervention funds on the asset base and income-generating activities of beneficiaries in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected through questionnaires, structured interviews and focus group discussions with secondary sources. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution and percentages were used in the data analysis. Appropriate descriptive and analytical tools were employed to process the obtained data. The results of the study established that the intervention was successful in terms of strengthening the asset base and promoting the beneficiaries’ income-generating activities. In other words, access to micro-credit has a positive but insignificant impact on poverty alleviation among the rural population. In conclusion, the intervention was successful in strengthening the asset base and promoting the beneficiaries’ income-generating activities. The study recommends that microcredit organizations should collect data from their clients on entry, which could be used as baseline information for later impact assessment. Impact assessment should be institutionalized and be an ongoing exercise rather than a one-off post-mortem event.