DBN Launches DAWN, Impact Report and MSME Data Assets

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Plc has introduced DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria, unveiled its DBN Impact Report and showcased DBN MSME Data Assets during the seventh edition of its Annual Lecture. The event, held at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, focused on the theme 'From Policy to Prosperity: Translating Economic Reforms into MSME Growth'.

The lecture gathered government officials, regulators, development partners, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs to discuss how economic reforms can generate tangible benefits for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

DBN's Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, kicked off the event with a welcome address. He highlighted that the major reforms have already been implemented, but the real challenge lies in ensuring that these benefits reach businesses across the country. Okpanachi emphasized that MSMEs constitute nearly half of Nigeria's GDP and over 80% of jobs, stating that when reforms work for MSMEs, they ultimately benefit most Nigerians.

DBN, through its Participating Financial Institutions, offers longer-term funding, partial credit guarantees via its subsidiary, Impact Credit Guarantee Limited, and capacity building, including an Entrepreneurship Training Programme. As of December 2025, DBN has disbursed a total of N1.4 trillion to MSMEs through 84 Participating Financial Institutions, resulting in the creation of approximately 1.6 million jobs across Nigeria.

For the next five years, DBN aims to extend its support to more than two million MSMEs, with specific goals targeting women-led businesses, youth-led businesses, and underserved states.