The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has disbursed more than N1 trillion to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since its inception, reaching over one million end-borrowers and supporting more than 1.6 million jobs across the country.
The development finance institution disclosed this during its media parley held in June 2026, where it also unveiled an ambitious five-year growth strategy aimed at expanding financing access for small businesses and deepening economic inclusion.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director, Development Bank of Nigeria, noted that 77 percent of beneficiaries reached since inception were women, while 28 percent were youth-led enterprises.
He also disclosed that N108 billion had been disbursed to more than 132,000 MSMEs operating in economically disadvantaged states, including Borno, Adamawa, Katsina, Yobe and Zamfara.
The bank said it has worked through 84 participating financial institutions comprising commercial banks, microfinance banks, merchant banks and other financial institutions to extend credit to underserved businesses.
In 2025 alone, DBN disbursed more than N358 billion to over 289,000 end-beneficiaries, with women accounting for 81 percent of recipients and youth-led businesses representing 17 percent.
The bank noted that N59 billion was channelled to more than 63,000 MSMEs operating in economically disadvantaged regions during the year.
Beyond lending, DBN said it has trained over 52,000 MSMEs nationwide and supported more than 20 financial institutions through its technical assistance programme designed to strengthen lending capabilities to small businesses.
The bank’s credit guarantee subsidiary has also expanded its reach. Since 2019, over N512 billion in guarantees have been issued to more than 100,000 MSMEs. In 2025 alone, guarantees worth N233 billion were extended to over 39,000 businesses.
As part of its next growth phase, DBN said it aims to reach more than two million MSMEs over the next five years, while growing loans outstanding to N1 trillion and increasing guarantees issued to N500 billion.
The institution also plans to mobilise N1.3 trillion in new debt and equity capital, support the creation of two million direct and indirect jobs, and achieve cumulative profit before tax of about N300 billion over the period.
Under its inclusion targets, DBN said 40 percent of loans disbursed will be directed to women-led businesses, while 30 percent will support youth-led enterprises. It also plans to ensure that 15 percent of lending reaches underserved geopolitical zones and focus states.
The bank said it would further expand green financing activities, targeting between N75 billion and N100 billion in green loans outstanding, while increasing participation in its MSME training programmes to 500,000 cumulative beneficiaries.
DBN, which commenced operations in November 2017 as a wholesale development finance institution, was established to improve access to finance for Nigeria’s underserved MSME sector through eligible financial intermediaries.