Tony Okpanachi, the managing director/CEO of the Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN), has reiterated the importance of capacity training for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as catalyst for national economic growth.
“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,” he said in a statement.
He stated 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.
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“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,” he stated.
This is coming following the announcement of the commencement of applications for participation in the 2025 DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme (DBNETP), its annual flagship capacity development programme for entrepreneurs; now in its 7th cycle and open to every Nigerian interested in entrepreneurship.
“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,” Okpanachi stated.
The capacity development training programme will take place in 12 cities across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. The training aims to help young entrepreneurs grow by strengthening their skills and capacity for business growth and sustainability.
DBNETP consists of both expert-led online modules and an in-person workshop and is likened to a business school, which comes at no cost to the participants.
Shortlisted candidates who will be attending the in-person workshop also get the opportunity to pitch their ideas and win a grant. Business ideas with innovative problem-solving solutions will receive grant funding to scale their business.
Formal registration for the capacity training has commenced on the DBN Learning Management System (LMS), and interested applicants are enjoined to log in to www.learning.devbankng.com to register.
Every participant is expected to enrol and complete a minimum of four (4) mandatory courses on the DBN BizAid LMS and obtain an overall score of 80 per cent from all quizzes. The courses are Credit Management and Access to Finance, Sustainability for Small Businesses, Accounting and Book-Keeping, and Marketing and Sales Techniques.
Upon completion of the four courses by the stipulated deadline and achieving the required 80 per cent pass mark, shortlisted participants will receive an email with a link to apply for the in-person training.
Upon submission of the application forms, each applicant will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, after which applicants will be screened and shortlisted based on the eligibility criteria.
