That microfinance banks are established to improve the socio-economic conditions of women especially in rural areas is a well-known fact, however in recent times, women entrepreneurs in Nigeria are no longer patronizing Microfinance banks like before. This calls for a research into factors responsible for low patronage of Microfinance banks by women entrepreneurs in South West Nigeria. The study employed Average Gross Turnover, Factor Analysis, Goodman and Kruskal’s gamma statistics to evaluate the effect of Microfinance banks on performance of women entrepreneurs and to determine the reasons for low patronage of Microfinance banks by women entrepreneurs. The result showed that weak but positive relationship exist between Microfinance banks and performance of women entrepreneurs. It was also observed that harsh loan recovery methods, high interest rates, short repayment periods and high charges imposed on customers are major reasons for low patronage of Microfinance banks by women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. It is recommended that Microfinance banks should reduce their interest rates drastically and lengthen the repayment periods so as to encourage women to patronize them more and to improve their performances.

Business combination over mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have become global phenomenon to achieve economies of scale and higher productivity. This study examined effect of banks’ mergers and acquisitions on Nigeria’s economic growth prior to and after merger sessions. The study made use of secondary data obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin covering the period 1990–2004 for Pre-M&As and 2005–2019 for Post-M&As totaling 30 years. Descriptive statistics and ordinary least square regression were employed for data analysis. The results indicated that in the Pre-M&As era, bank’s capital base, credit granted to the private sector and bank spread positively enhanced economic growth howbeit; bank's gross credit adversely affected GDP. Findings also revealed that Post-M&As era contradicted Pre-M&As period, with all variables showing insignificant and unexpected relationship with economic growth, except credit granted to the private sector. This indicates that banks’ M&As has not positively and adequately impacted on Nigeria’s economic growth during period under consideration. As a result, the study recommends that banks’ regulatory and supervisory framework should be strengthened and healthy competition should be promoted.