The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has announced that it has disbursed over ₦1 trillion in empowerment interventions since 2015, with 62 per cent of the funds directly benefiting women.
DBN’s Managing Director, Mr Tobi Okparachi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Yola during an empowerment programme for women. He was represented by the bank’s Head of Corporate Services, Mr Idris Salihu.
The event, organised in partnership with the Organisation for Environmental, Agricultural and Health Development (OEAHD), trained 200 women across the 21 local government areas of Adamawa.
The programme was held under the theme, “Empowering Women through Entrepreneurship for Economic Inclusion.” It seeks to promote gender empowerment, economic inclusion and financial independence among women.
Okparachi explained that the initiative is designed to improve women’s access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He added that the training was tailored to equip participants with the tools needed to move from financial exclusion to financial inclusion.
“Empowering women has become increasingly critical. Women contribute significantly to economic growth and community wellbeing. This initiative seeks to strengthen their capacity to become financially independent and economically productive,” he said.
According to him, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework has also been put in place to assess the impact and sustainability of the businesses created through the programme.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Tabitha Sallah, President of OEAHD, said the training covered practical areas such as agriculture, environmental sustainability, health services and entrepreneurship.
She described the initiative as a long-term investment in the nation’s future, pointing out that it was designed to reduce the gender gap in economic opportunities.
“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.
Sallah commended DBN for its collaboration, noting that the partnership reflects national recognition and is targeted at enabling women to drive economic progress.
Also, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Neido Kofulto, praised the initiative, calling it both timely and essential. She encouraged participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge gained to improve their livelihoods and contribute to community growth.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Christiana Filibus, a physically challenged participant, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. She said the training provided valuable knowledge on business registration, marketing and regulatory compliance.
“The professional advice we received from CAC, NAFDAC and BOI was invaluable. We are committed to registering and formalising our businesses to ensure long-term growth,” she said.