The Development Bank of Nigeria has disbursed more than N1 trillion to over one million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), supporting the creation of more than 1.6 million jobs since it began operations in 2017.
The milestone was disclosed by Dr. Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director of DBN during a media briefing in Lagos, where he outlined the bank’s achievements and unveiled its growth strategy for the next five years.
Established to address financing gaps faced by small businesses, DBN provides long-term funding, credit guarantees and capacity-building support through a network of participating financial institutions.
Building on its achievements, DBN has set new targets aimed at expanding its developmental impact across the country.
The bank plans to grow its outstanding loan portfolio to N1 trillion and issue N500 billion in credit guarantees under its new strategic framework. It also aims to support more than two million MSMEs and facilitate the creation of two million direct and indirect jobs over the next five years.
“Our strategic intent is to achieve greater scale by expanding support for MSMEs and strengthening inclusive economic growth,” Okpanachi said.
To fund this expansion, the bank intends to mobilise N1.3 trillion in debt and equity capital, which will be deployed to broaden access to finance and strengthen support for key sectors of the economy.
According to DBN, its financing activities have had a strong focus on inclusion, particularly for women, young entrepreneurs and businesses operating in underserved communities.
Women-owned enterprises account for 77 per cent of the bank’s beneficiaries, while youth-led businesses represent 28 per cent.
The bank has also extended significant support to conflict-affected and economically disadvantaged regions. More than N108 billion has been disbursed to over 132,000 MSMEs across states including Borno, Adamawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara.
Okpanachi said these interventions are helping businesses in vulnerable communities gain access to financing that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
DBN recorded a strong performance in 2025, disbursing more than N358 billion to over 289,000 MSMEs while expanding its network by onboarding five additional Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).
The bank currently works with 84 PFIs, including commercial banks, microfinance banks, merchant banks and development finance institutions, enabling it to reach businesses across the country.
