Financial Inclusion and Development of Small & Medium Scale Enterprises in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study appraises the effect of financial inclusion on development of small and medium enterprises in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The research employed a survey design. The sample size of this study was 128 small scale businesses in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni L.G.A in Rivers State, while the population consisted of 188 small scale businesses in the same area. Taro Yamane's formula was employed to determine the sample size for this investigation at a 5% level of significance. Respondents were randomly selected utilising simple random sampling. The data analysis techniques employed in the study included Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), mean scores, straightforward percentages, frequencies, and tables. The study's upshots indicated that the development of SMEs in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni L.G.A in Rivers State is significantly and favourably influenced by access to fiscal services, usage of fiscal services, and access to loans from rural branches of banks, as well as electronic banking. In Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni L.G.A in Rivers State, the study determined that financial inclusion significantly contributes to the growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The research suggested that the Nigerian government and financial institutions should prioritise the expansion of fiscal services, particularly in underserved rural areas. To accomplish this, it is possible to establish additional rural bank branches, implement mobile banking units, and provide microfinance services.