The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), in continuation of its capacity development training programmes for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has organised a one-day training for over 1,000 small businesses across six states in the North-East and North-West.
According to the development bank, empowered MSMEs are spread throughout Gombe. Maiduguri, Adamawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi states.
In a statement, it noted that the capacity training conducted in each location was facilitated by experts in small and medium-scale business management.
According to DBN, the capacity building programme focused on optimisation and development of skills, aimed at further strengthening the capacity of the beneficiaries to scale up their businesses.
It noted that the key objective of the training was to help the owners of the businesses develop their capacity and gain better knowledge of how they could access the DBN’s funds through the participating financial intermediaries.
The Managing Director of Development Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tony Okpanachi, commended the facilitators for bringing their expertise and experience to bear and expressed the optimism that the training would have a lasting impact on the participants and their businesses.
He affirmed that the training was in line with the bank’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of MSMEs in the country so that they can continue to contribute more to economic growth.
Okpanachi said, “The strategic role of MSMEs as enablers of socio-economic development cannot be overemphasised. A larger percentage of businesses in Nigeria are in the informal sector, dominated by MSMEs. The MSMEs sector is a significant pillar of Nigerian economic growth; they make up 97 per cent of businesses, generate six million jobs and contribute 50 per cent of the national gross domestic product.
“Small businesses are value-creators and they create wealth for individuals. At DBN, we are passionately committed to seeing MSMEs increase their capacity for growth and expansion, and being more sustainable so that together, we can continue to build a stronger economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
