L-R: Head, Corporate Services, DBN, Idris Salihu; Executive Director, DBN, Ijeoma D. Ozulumba and MD/CEO, DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi captured earlier this week following a strategic meeting.
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) is a wholesale financial institution which aims to increase access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through eligible financial intermediaries (“participating financial institutions”).
The main focus of the DBN is MSMEs.
As a wholesale bank, the DBN will lend wholesale to Microfinance Banks which will on-lend medium to long-term loans to MSMEs.
MSMEs contribute 48.47 percent to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of Nigeria but have access to only about 5 percent of lending from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).
The influx of additional capital from the DBN will lower borrowing rates and the longer tenure of the loans, will provide the required flexibility in the management of cash flows, giving businesses the opportunity to make capital improvements and acquire equipment or supplies.
As the economy diversifies, the growth of the MSME sector will have a positive impact on the economy through employment generation, wealth creation and economic growth