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.
