DBN Celebrates Impactful Partnerships At Awards Ceremony

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has celebrated its Partner Financial Institutions (PFI) in this year’s DBN Service Ambassadors’ Awards Ceremony.

The event was held in Lagos recently, under the theme “Enhancing Partnership for MSME Resilience and Growth.”

The managing director of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, in his keynote address, commended DBN’s partners for their commitment to supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria. “You, our partners, are acknowledged and celebrated for your outreach to entrepreneurs, young people, and businesses seeking to scale up. We appreciate you for transforming aspirational ideas into bankable businesses through the advisory roles you play,” he said.

The MD emphasised that partners must continue to campaign, share success stories, and raise awareness of the program’s societal contributions. “Let’s shift the focus from accolades to impact. This is about Nigeria’s future, not just a moment of recognition,” he added.

Supporting this narrative, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of DBN presented impressive milestones in the Bank’s disbursement drive. In the past year, DBN disbursed ₦273.4 Billion, pushing total disbursement to ₦1 trillion nationwide. Of note were remarkable strides in gender and youth-focused financing: disbursement to women soared by 151.24%, and to youth aged 18–35 by over 181%. Financial inclusion rose by over 110%, reinforcing DBN’s mission of inclusive growth.

The COO also highlighted DBN’s rapid institutional growth—from just 5 to over 79 Partner Financial Institutions (PFIs) in five years—emphasising the importance of strategic alliances in scaling economic development.

The ceremony honoured outstanding PFIs who demonstrated exceptional support for MSMEs. UBA received the Highest Impact on MSMEs in Nigeria and the Platinum Service Ambassador Award. LAPO Microfinance Bank won multiple accolades, including Highest Impact on Grassroots MSMEs and Women MSMEs in Nigeria. Providus Bank was recognised for supporting Nigeria’s livestock value chain. FCMB and Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc received DBN Sustainability Awards for their green and socially responsible initiatives.

Other standout winners included Fidelity Bank for innovation, Stanbic IBTC for enabling first-time credit access, and Wema Bank and Baobab MFB for startup financing and support.