Tony Okpanachi, the managing director of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) said the bank’s annual ambassador awards is focused on financial institutions that are converting unbankable ideas into bankable businesses through their advisory services.
According to him, the DBN has leveraged partners’ support to achieve over 110 percent financial inclusion in the last five years. He disclosed that the partnership appreciation and impact was intended at acknowledging partners for their outreach to entrepreneurs and businesses.
“You our partners, are acknowledged and celebrated for your outreach to entrepreneurs, young people, and businesses seeking to scale up. We appreciate you for transforming unbankable ideas into bankable businesses through the advisory roles you play,” Okpanachi said during the 2025 Service Ambassadors’ Awards ceremony, held in Lagos with the theme, ‘Enhancing Partnership for MSME Resilience and Growth.’
According to him, the award is the bank’s way of appreciating partners. He disclosed that the focus is on impact and storytelling and recognition of the partners’ positive impact on Nigeria’s long-term change.
He highlighted the partnership’s significant impact on Nigeria and the necessity for long-term change over mere recognition through awards, disclosing that the primary emphasis is on driving impact and sharing compelling stories. “Partners are encouraged to enhance their efforts for greater influence in the upcoming year, focusing on meaningful engagement rather than accolades.”
Read also: DBN rewards partners for facilitating access to finance in critical sectors
Bonaventure Okhaimo, chief operating officer, DBN, affirmed that the bank has disbursed 273.4 million naira last year, reaching a total of 1 trillion naira despite a 13 trillion naira financing gap. “Notably, disbursement to women at 151.24 percent and to youth (ages 18-35) increased by over 181 percent. Financial inclusion efforts rose by over 110 percent.”
“While we look forward to expand our outreach and disbursement to women and young entrepreneurs, building on the 151.24 percent and 181 percent increases achieved, we celebrate and recognize the achievements of partner financial institutions (PFIs) and stakeholders and we look forward to celebrating them again next year,” Okhaimo said.
Some of the celebrated partners include Fidelity Bank winner, DBN Innovation Award (DMB category); FSDH Merchant Bank, winner of DBN Innovation Award (Merchant Bank category); Addosser MFB for winning the MfB category and Living Trust Market Bank plc, winner of the OFI category.
Others include: Stanbic IBTC Bank emerge as the DMB highest impact on MSMEs accessing credit for first time in Nigeria; Alert MfB for MfB with highest impact on MSME successful credits for first time; Wema Bank for DMB with the highest impact on startups in Nigeria; Baobab MfB for MfB with the highest impact on startups in Nigeria; and Trust MfB for PFI with the most outstanding impact on the bottom of the pyramid in Nigeria, while UBA won the Platinum Service Ambassadors award 2025.
