DBN Launches Nationwide Training for Livestock SMEs

The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc has started a nationwide capacity building training programme for livestock-focused small and medium enterprises and participating financial institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

DBN said on Wednesday that the first training will begin in Enugu State in the South-East.

The programme is being implemented under the World Bank–funded Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of participating financial institutions to develop financial products that address funding gaps faced by SMEs in the livestock sector.

The training also aims to improve the financial readiness of livestock SMEs by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to access funding and expand their businesses. It will provide a platform for engagement between financial institutions and livestock enterprises.

Speaking on the programme, DBN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the training is important for unlocking the potential of livestock enterprises as contributors to economic growth and job creation. He encouraged SMEs and financial institutions across the zones to take part.

Okpanachi said the programme will help bridge skills and knowledge gaps among MSMEs and support business growth and sustainability in the livestock sector.

He added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Livestock Development Initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aimed at improving food security, creating jobs and supporting economic growth.

The training will be held in selected LPRES states to ensure national coverage. The locations include Enugu in the South-East, Adamawa in the North-East, Ondo in the South-West and South-South, Kano in the North-West, and Kogi in the North-Central zone.

Participants will include livestock SMEs, participating financial institutions, officials of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, LPRES national and state offices, and DBN staff. DBN estimates that over 200 financial institutions and 300 SMEs will benefit from the training.

High-performing SMEs may also qualify for a World Bank-approved performance based grant.