THE IMPACT OF THE CAPITAL MARKET ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (1988-2011)

THE IMPACT OF THE CAPITAL MARKET ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (1988-2011) (ECONOMICS PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of Study

The capital market is a highly specialized and organized financial market and indeed essential agent of economic growth and development because of its ability to facilitate and mobilize saving and investment. To a great extent, the positive relationship between capital accumulation and real economic growth has long been affirmed in economic theories (Anyanwu, 1996). Success in capital accumulation and mobilization for development varies among nations, but it is largely dependent on domestic savings and inflows of foreign capital. Therefore, to arrest the menace of the current economic downturn, effort must be geared towards effective resource mobilization. It is in realization of this that consideration is given to measure for the development of capital market as an institution for the mobilization of finance from the surplus sectors to the deficit sectors.The development of capital market in Nigeria, as in other developing countries, has been induced and fostered by the government. Though, prior to the establishment of stock market in Nigeria, there existed some less formal market arrangements for the operation of capital market. It was not  prominent until the visit of Mr. J. B. Lobynesion in 1959, on the invitation of the Federal government, to advice on the role the Central Bank could play in the development of local money and capital market. As a follow-up to this, the government commissioned and a set up the Barback Committee to study and make recommendations on the ways and means of establishing a stock market in Nigeria as a formal capital market. Acting on the recommendation of the committee, the Lagos Stock Exchange (as it was called then) was set-up in March 1960, and in September 1961, it was incorporated under Section 2 cap 37, through the collaborative effort of Central Bank of Nigeria, the Business Community and Industrial Development Bank.With the establishment of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 1959 and the coming into existence of the Lagos Stock Exchange in 1961 and Subsequently, the Nigeria Stock Exchange by an Act in 1979, a sound foundation was laid for the operation of the Nigerian Capital Market for trading in securities of long term nature needed for the financing of the industrial sector and the economy at large.

THE IMPACT OF THE CAPITAL MARKET ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (1988-2011) (ECONOMICS PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)