 has crossed the N1 trillion mark in financing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).){kind=link}
DBN Surpasses N1tn MSME Financing Milestone, Supports 1.6m Jobs
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has crossed the N1 trillion mark in financing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), underscoring its growing role in expanding access to credit and supporting economic inclusion across the country.
A review of the bank’s operations as of December 2025 showed that more than N1 trillion has been disbursed through participating financial institutions since the commencement of operations in 2017, reaching over one million end-beneficiaries nationwide.
Speaking in Lagos, the Managing Director of DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, said the bank’s interventions have strengthened MSME financing, enhanced entrepreneurial capacity and contributed significantly to employment generation.
According to him, DBN has expanded its network to 84 participating financial institutions, including deposit money banks, microfinance banks, merchant banks and other financial intermediaries, creating wider channels for credit delivery to underserved businesses.
The bank disclosed that women accounted for 77 per cent of beneficiaries, while youths represented 28 per cent, reflecting its focus on promoting inclusive economic growth.
In a bid to stimulate economic activity in vulnerable regions, DBN said it has disbursed over N108 billion to more than 132,000 MSMEs operating in economically disadvantaged states, including Borno, Adamawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara.
Beyond financing, the institution reported significant investments in capacity development, with over 52,000 MSMEs trained across the country. The bank also deployed a Learning Management System to broaden access to entrepreneurial training and business development resources.
DBN said its interventions have supported the creation of more than 1.6 million jobs since inception, while over 20 participating financial institutions have benefited from its technical assistance programmes aimed at strengthening lending capabilities and risk management frameworks.
On credit enhancement, Okpanachi revealed that the bank has issued guarantees exceeding N512 billion to more than 100,000 MSMEs since 2019, helping to reduce lending risks and encourage greater financial sector participation in MSME financing.
The bank noted that private sector lending facilitated through its programmes accounted for an estimated 20 to 25 per cent of total MSME credit over the past five years, highlighting its increasing influence within Nigeria’s small business ecosystem.
For the 2025 financial year, DBN reported a strong performance, onboarding five additional participating financial institutions and disbursing over N358 billion to businesses across the country.
The 2025 interventions translated into more than 289,000 end-beneficiary loans, with women accounting for 81 per cent of recipients and youths representing 17 per cent. The bank also channelled N59 billion to over 63,000 MSMEs in economically disadvantaged regions during the year.
In addition, more than 48,000 MSMEs received capacity-building support in 2025, while DBN-backed interventions contributed to the creation of over 376,000 jobs. The bank further disclosed that more than 20 participating financial institutions received technical assistance support, while guarantees worth over N233 billion were issued to more than 39,000 MSMEs within the year.
The performance highlights DBN’s expanding role as a development finance institution focused on bridging Nigeria’s MSME financing gap, promoting inclusive growth and supporting job creation amid persistent economic challenges.