The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) says it has disbursed more than N1 trillion in empowerment interventions since 2015, with women receiving 62 percent of the funds.
Gatekeepers News reports that Tony Okpanachi, DBN’s managing director, disclosed this on Tuesday at a women’s empowerment programme in Yola, Adamawa. The event, themed “Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship for Economic Inclusion,” was organised in partnership with the Organisation for Environmental, Agricultural and Health Development (OEAHD).
Through the collaboration, 200 women across Adamawa’s 21 local government areas were trained in entrepreneurship, agriculture, sustainability, and health.
Okpanachi, represented by Idris Salihu, DBN’s head of corporate services, said the initiative was designed to expand women’s access to finance for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).
“Empowering women has become increasingly critical. Women contribute significantly to economic growth and community wellbeing,” Okpanachi said.
“This initiative seeks to strengthen their capacity to become financially independent and economically productive.”
He added that the bank has developed a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the sustainability and impact of businesses created through the programme.
Tabitha Sallah, president of OEAHD, said the training provided women with practical knowledge and tools to bridge the gender gap.
“We are committed to ensuring that women are not left behind in the economic transformation of our nation. Our participation and leadership are not optional; they are essential,” she said.
She commended DBN for supporting gender-focused initiatives, noting that such partnerships give women greater opportunities to drive national progress.
Also speaking, Neido Kofulto, Adamawa’s commissioner for women affairs, described the programme as timely and urged participants to apply the skills to improve their livelihoods and uplift their communities.
