DBN secures AfDB funding to boost women-led MSMEs
May 13, 2026 12:06 am
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The Development Bank of Nigeria has partnered with the African Development Bank Group on a $61m financing package aimed at expanding access to credit for women-owned and women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across Nigeria.
According to a statement on Tuesday, the facility is structured across three components designed to deepen MSME financing and strengthen women’s participation in key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, clean energy, and healthcare.
The package comprises a $50m gender-focused line of credit, an $8m concessional facility under the Agri-Food SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism, and a $3m grant supported through the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa initiative, backed by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative.
The AfDB said more than 95 per cent of the total financing is directed at women-owned and women-led enterprises, describing the intervention as part of efforts to address persistent funding gaps that limit women entrepreneurs’ access to finance in Nigeria.
The funds will be deployed through DBN’s network of Participating Financial Institutions, which are expected to on-lend to eligible MSMEs nationwide. The structure also combines long-term financing, concessional capital, partial credit guarantees, and technical assistance aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem.
“The intervention aims to increase the share of women-focused lending within DBN’s MSME portfolio,” the AfDB said, adding that the initiative supports private sector-led growth and inclusive economic transformation.
The Director-General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Country Office, Dr Abdul Kamara, said women entrepreneurs remain a critical but under-served segment of the economy.
“This operation reflects the African Development Bank’s commitment to unlocking economic opportunities for women,” he said. “By working through DBN, we are not just expanding access to credit; we are investing in the engine of Nigeria’s inclusive economic transformation.”
The latest facility further strengthens the long-standing partnership between AfDB and DBN, which was established with support from AfDB and other development partners to improve access to finance for MSMEs in Nigeria.
Justice has over three years experience spanning digital and print media. At The PUNCH, he currently covers the automobile sector with special interest in features and industry analysis.
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