The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has unveiled its first MSME Connect and Innovation Hub in Kaduna, marking a strategic shift from being solely a financier to becoming a catalyst for innovation-driven enterprise growth.
The Kaduna Hub is the first of six hubs planned nationwide, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through incubation, capital access, capacity building, and scale-up support for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, December 4, 2025, DBN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, described the initiative as a major boost for inclusive economic growth.
“This launch is a game-changer for Nigeria’s MSME sector. By providing accessible finance and a platform for innovation, we are unlocking a new era of inclusive growth—empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs to shape the future,” Okpanachi said.
He added that the initiative reaffirmed DBN’s commitment to MSMEs as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and industrialisation, while positioning the Bank as a strategic institution for attracting investors into Nigeria’s innovation economy.
DBN’s Chief Economist, Prof. Joseph Nnanna, said the hub underscored the importance of targeted finance and innovation in economic transformation.
“Innovation is the next frontier of economic transformation and inclusive growth amid rapidly evolving global economies. The DBN MSME Hubs will turbocharge this progress,” Nnanna stated.
He noted that the hubs would attract private investment into Nigeria’s innovation space and strengthen regional MSME capacity across the country.
“This is a historic milestone. We invite innovators, investors, and partners to join us in shaping Nigeria’s knowledge economy,” he added.
According to DBN, the MSME Connect & Innovation Hubs are designed as a long-term and sustainable initiative, with projections to produce thousands of investment-ready startups by 2028, while increasing participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The Kaduna launch event brought together MSMEs, policymakers, innovation hubs, financial institutions, and private-sector stakeholders, featuring presentations on the hub’s vision, a 12-month acceleration programme by Wennovation Hub, MSME exhibitions, and the launch of the DBN Innovation Hub application portal.
