The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) says it has disbursed N1.4tn to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), supporting about 1.6 million jobs nationwide as of December 2025.
The bank disclosed this in a statement on Thursday following its seventh annual lecture, held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Wednesday.
DBN Managing Director, Tony Okpanachi, said the funds were channelled through 84 participating financial institutions to improve access to credit for small businesses.
He said the bank’s new five-year strategy aims to reach more than two million MSMEs, with priority given to women-led businesses, young entrepreneurs, and businesses in underserved states.
Okpanachi noted that MSMEs account for nearly half of Nigeria’s gross domestic product and more than 80 percent of employment, stressing that economic reforms would have limited impact without improved access to finance.
He said DBN supports businesses through longer-term loans, partial credit guarantees, and entrepreneurship training.
At the event, the bank launched its Action for Women in Nigeria (DAWN) initiative to expand financing for women-owned businesses through loans, credit guarantees, technical assistance, grants, and market access.
DBN also signed a $61m gender-focused credit facility agreement with the African Development Bank to strengthen financing for women-led enterprises.
Okpanachi urged financial institutions to extend lending to underserved sectors and communities while encouraging entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses and maintain proper financial records.
The lecture brought together government officials, business leaders, development partners, and entrepreneurs to discuss how economic reforms could deliver tangible benefits to small businesses.
