Development Bank Asks Agencies To Support MSME, Graduates 80 Entrepreneurs

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has said that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy as its graduated 80 entrepreneurs from the second cohort of its Innovation Hub Acceleration Programme.

While stressing that sustainable business growth requires more than funding, DBN called on government agencies, investors, development partners and ecosystem players to strengthen support for Nigeria’s MSME sector.

Addressing the newly graduated entrepreneurs and other guests at the ceremony and Demo Day in Kaduna, yesterday, DBN’s capacity building manager, Fortune Tamunokuro Granville, said the programme was developed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks and confidence required to build sustainable businesses.

Granville who described the initiative as a strategic platform for empowering MSMEs since its launch in December 2025, said that participants had refined their business models, strengthened their financial and operational capabilities and gained practical insights from industry experts.

“Today marks an important milestone not only for the entrepreneurs gathered here but also for the DBN Innovation Hub itself. You now stand better prepared to navigate the realities of entrepreneurship and seize the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.

“At DBN, we firmly believe that MSMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy. This belief underpins our investments in programmes such as the DBN Innovation Hub because sustainable business growth requires knowledge, networks, mentorship, market opportunities and the confidence to scale,” he said.

Granville stated that through two cohorts in 2026, the Innovation Hub had supported 80 entrepreneurs drawn from the North-West and North-East, providing them with exposure, mentorship and business development support.

According to him, beyond classroom sessions, the programme had fostered a community of innovators committed to solving problems, creating jobs and contributing to national economic development.

“The real measure of success will be what happens after today. It will be seen in the businesses you grow, the customers you serve, the jobs you create and the partnerships you build,” he said.

He urged the graduates to uphold the programme’s guiding principles of commitment, character, collaboration, change and care, describing them as essential values for sustainable entrepreneurship.

Granville commended the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFund) for supporting the initiative and praised implementation partner Wennovation Hub, facilitators and mentors for contributing to the programme’s success.

Also speaking, Kaduna State Manager of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Badamasi Yau Barau, urged participants to register on SMEDAN’s database to access training, grants and business linkages while appealing to them to leverage shared production facilities and digital platforms to expand their markets.