Afreximbank commits $75 million SME finance facility to Development Bank of Nigeria

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has dedicated a $75 million finance facility to the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) to broaden entry to finance for Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), together with eligible companies within the inventive financial system.

DBN will route the mortgage via its associate monetary establishments to fund eligible small companies. The facility will help working capital, asset acquisition, pre-export, post-export and provide chain actions, with companies in vogue, movie, music, design and the broader inventive industries among the many supposed beneficiaries.

Announced throughout CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos, the ability displays the occasion’s give attention to connecting inventive enterprises with finance, funding and markets. Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, and Dr. Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, DBN, led the ceremonial signing on behalf of their establishments.

“Our partnership with DBN goes beyond providing capital. We are taking an integrated approach that combines finance with capacity building, export-readiness support and access to markets. Our objective is to help Nigerian SMEs build productive capacity, strengthen their competitiveness and make the transition from promising local businesses to sustainable exporters. At the same time, we will work with participating financial institutions to strengthen their capacity to better understand, finance and support SMEs throughout their growth journey,” mentioned Mrs. Awani.

“This partnership with Afreximbank represents another important step in DBN’s commitment to expanding access to finance for Nigerian MSMEs and enabling them to build resilient, competitive and sustainable businesses. The $75 million facility will provide much-needed financing through our Participating Financial Institutions, while creating greater opportunities for businesses, particularly those in the creative and export-oriented sectors, to strengthen their productive capacity and access new markets,” mentioned Dr. Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Development Bank of Nigeria.