In 2yrs 50,000 MSMEs were Granted DBN loans
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has lent at least N70 billion to over 50,000 micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in less than two years since its establishment.
The financial institution (DBN) was established in 2017 to alleviate financing constraints faced by MSMEs in Nigeria through providing financing, partial credit guarantees and technical assistance to eligible financial intermediaries on a market-conforming and fully financially sustainable basis.
Shehu Yahaya, Chairman, Board of directors, DBN disclosed this at the maiden edition of the bank’s lecture series held in Abuja. He said the bank was established to promote growth, enhance job creation and help to tackle challenges of poverty in the country.
“For DBN, it is in its early days but we can say that in the first one and a half years of commencement of operation, the bank has lent more than N70 billion and impacted on more than 50,000 MSMEs.” Yahaya stated.
Managing Director, DBN, Tony Okpanachi, said access to finance remains a major challenge for the over 41.5 million MSMEs in Nigeria.
He further said: “MSMEs are the largest employers in many low-income countries including Nigeria, yet their viability and growth is restricted by lack of access to long-term debt capital. MSMEs are the backbone for inclusive economic growth.
In developed economies, small businesses have been seen to be the driving force in achieving growth in all sectors of the economy they operate. “Discussion from today’s lecture would help to upscale the capacity of private-finance initiates to lend to MSMEs and improve their capacity across all sectors of the economy to access and use finance efficiently.
“DBN is positioned to play a focal and catalytic role in providing funding and risk-sharing guarantees.” Donald Kaberuka, former president of African Development Bank (AfDB) said
MSMEs are the drivers of inclusive growth everywhere. “In many ways Nigeria is showing a lot of dynamism in this area; – from agribusiness, retail and consumer, hospitality, entertainment, small startups in the digital space.
There’s no doubt that DBN is off to that trajectory and will be a key factor in unlocking the potential of this great country,” he also stated.
