The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has announced plans to train entrepreneurs on business growth and sustainability.
The Bank commenced applications for participation in its annual flagship capacity development programme for interested entrepreneurs.
The DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme (DBNETP) is now in its seventh cycle and is open to every Nigerian who is interested in entrepreneurship.
The capacity development training programme will take place in 12 cities across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
Speaking on the capacity-building training, managing director/CEO of DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, affirmed that the capacity development programme underscored the bank’s long-term commitment to supporting both aspiring entrepreneurs to hone their entrepreneurial skills as well as fostering the growth and scalability of already existing MSMEs.
“Capacity building is pivotal for MSMEs’ growth in Nigeria as it bridges the knowledge and skills gap, empowering entrepreneurs to innovate, compete, and thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
“The DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme, which is in its seventh Cycle, highlights DBN’s focus on equipping MSMEs with the necessary skills to succeed,” he asserted.
He further said, “our capacity-building training is a catalyst for unlocking MSMEs’ potential as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, job creation, and prosperity in Nigeria.
“This training emphasises DBN’s role in promoting economic growth through MSME development.”
Speaking on the uniqueness of this year’s edition of the DBNETP, Okpanachi disclosed, “we want to scale up what we’ve done in the first six years.
There’s still a lot to be done in Nigeria, and we are very aspirational in our approach – we want to expand our impact and support more young entrepreneurs and MSMEs generally.”
He pointed out since its inception, DBN’s commitment to the sector included disbursement of over N1 trillion to MSMEs, resulting in the creation of more than 1.2 million jobs; support for MSMEs in economically-disadvantaged states; and focus on inclusive growth, with targets to allocate 20 per cent of loans to women-led businesses and 40 per cent to enterprises owned by economically-disadvantaged Nigerians.
Okpanachi encouraged young Nigerians with a passion for entrepreneurship to take advantage of the training, stressing that the knowledge gained during the free training would be an invaluable asset for business success.
The DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme (DBNETP) aims to equip MSMEs with skills and competencies to access credit, manage funds efficiently, and improve business sustainability. It is one of the flagship initiatives by the Development Bank of Nigeria to bolster the capacity of MSMEs for growth, business sustainability, and enabling them to scale.
