DBN empowers northern entrepreneurs to foster economic growth

​The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has graduated 80 entrepreneurs from the North-West and North-East regions as part of its Innovation Hub Acceleration Programme. The initiative aims to fortify local businesses, stimulate job creation, improve livelihoods, and accelerate Nigeria’s broader economic transformation.

​During the graduation ceremony for the programme’s second cohort in Kaduna on Tuesday, Fortune Tamunokuro Granville, Capacity Building Manager at the DBN, stated that the initiative has provided participants with essential skills, mentorship, market linkages, and financial readiness. He noted that these tools are critical for building sustainable enterprises that drive economic growth.

​Sustaining MSME development

​Since the launch of the DBN Innovation Hub in December 2025, it has functioned as a vital platform for empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through capacity building and financial preparation. The two cohorts trained in 2026 have successfully integrated 80 innovative entrepreneurs from across Northern Nigeria, offering them the support necessary to bolster their business operations.

​Granville emphasised that MSMEs remain the backbone of the Nigerian economy. He reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to investing in programmes that foster entrepreneurship and innovation, urging the graduates to view this achievement as the start of a new chapter. He noted that true success will be measured by their ability to grow businesses, create employment, and provide tangible solutions to their communities.

​Fostering collaboration and resilience

​Participants were encouraged to uphold the programme’s core guiding principles: Commitment, Character, Collaboration, Change, and Care. Granville also issued a call to action for governments, development institutions, investors, and the private sector to deepen their collaboration in supporting MSMEs through improved mentorship and market access.

​He expressed appreciation to the Arab Gulf Fund (AGFund) for its financial support, Wennovation Hub for project implementation, and the Kaduna State Government for providing an enabling environment. Additionally, he thanked the facilitators and mentors who contributed to the success of the programme.

​Bridging the gap for northern businesses

​Bamasi Yau Barau, Kaduna State Manager of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), delivered a goodwill message, describing the programme as a critical bridge connecting entrepreneurs to finance and markets. He commended the DBN for boosting the confidence of Northern entrepreneurs and advised participants to register on SMEDAN’s database to access further grants and business opportunities.

​Barau also encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage the agency’s Shared Facility Centres and the National Business Aggregation Platform to lower production costs. Addressing the pitch competition winners, he cautioned them to treat financial support as investment capital rather than personal income. “This cheque is seed, not salary. Re-invest it, scale it and employ someone with it,” he stated. SMEDAN committed to providing ongoing support through business development services and enterprise initiatives following the ceremony.