The Managing Director of DBN, Tony Okpanachi, shared this achievement during a recent media briefing in Lagos. He further highlighted the bank's commitment to reaching economically vulnerable areas, stating that DBN's interventions have touched more than 69,000 MSMEs operating in states such as Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, and Adamawa.
The data provided by the bank also underscores its focus on inclusivity. Notably, 74 percent of the beneficiaries of DBN's financial support were women, while 25 percent were youths, demonstrating a strong emphasis on empowering these key demographic groups. Beyond financial aid, DBN has also invested in human capital development, having provided training to over 9,500 MSMEs across the country.
"The bank’s Technical Assistance Programme has supported 20 participating financial institutions to improve their ability to lend to MSMEs, with over 711,000 MSME beneficiaries recorded. More than 1.2 million jobs have been created through our various interventions since inception," Okpanachi elaborated.
The success of DBN's initiatives has garnered significant recognition. The bank proudly announced its "AAA" rating by both Agusto & Co. and GCR, alongside prestigious accolades such as the Global SME Finance Awards and the World Bank’s Best Project in Nigeria. Furthermore, DBN has achieved Green Climate Fund accreditation and held the top position in the Transparency and Integrity Index for two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023.
Looking towards the future, DBN has set ambitious targets for the next five years. The bank aims to grow its outstanding loan portfolio to N1 trillion, catalyze the creation of two million jobs, support two million MSMEs, and significantly increase its green financing loans to between N75 billion and N100 billion.
Incorporated on September 19, 2014, DBN commenced operations as a wholesale development finance institution on November 1, 2017. Its core mission remains to foster sustainable socio-economic development in Nigeria by enhancing access to finance for the nation's underserved MSME sector, playing a crucial role in driving economic growth and creating opportunities across the country.