By Abubakar Yusuf
As the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) plc is emerging not just as a financial institution, but as a critical engine for women’s economic emancipation and recognition across the country. Through a sustained strategy of accessible credit, capacity building, and advocacy for gender parity, the Bank is tangibly demonstrating that empowering women is synonymous with empowering the Nigerian household and, by extension, the entire national economy.
Under the visionary leadership of its Managing Director, Dr Tony Okpanachi, the DBN has transformed the annual IWD celebration into a powerful platform for action. What began as a day of commemoration has evolved into a catalyst for tangible change, moving beyond mere rhetoric to activate programmes that place women firmly at the centre of the nation’s economic growth story. The Bank’s 2026 IWD programme is poised to continue this tradition, reinforcing its role as a primary enabler of the female workforce.
A Historic Financial Commitment to Women
The most compelling evidence of the DBN’s commitment lies in its disbursement records. The Bank has strategically channelled a staggering N272 billion specifically to women entrepreneurs through its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) programme. This injection of capital is not merely a statistic; it represents a deliberate effort to dismantle one of the most persistent barriers faced by female business owners: access to affordable finance.
This funding has been instrumental in promoting self-sustenance and self-reliance among Nigerian women, transforming countless individuals from vulnerable economic actors into robust, enterprising entities. By prioritising women for these funds, the DBN is ensuring that a significant portion of the financial ecosystem is directed toward those who historically have been underserved by traditional lending institutions. This focus has a multiplier effect, as studies consistently show that women are more likely to reinvest their earnings in their families and communities, thereby accelerating grassroots economic development.
Beyond Capital: Building Capacity and Challenging Stereotypes
The DBN’s strategy, however, extends far beyond the provision of seed funding and loans. Recognising that financial capital must be matched with intellectual capital, the Bank places a heavy emphasis on training, retraining, and capacity building. Year-round, it facilitates workshops and programmes that attract large numbers of female participants, focusing on business management, financial literacy, and digital skills.
These initiatives are designed to build an “enterprising entity” capable of scaling and competing in a modern economy. Crucially, these programmes are anchored in a commitment to global standards of gender equality and parity. The Bank has consistently championed themes such as “Embracing Equity,” “Breaking the Bias,” and “Accelerating Equity” —campaigns that go beyond celebration to actively challenge gender inequality and the stereotypes that have long stifled women’s progress in the business world.
This advocacy work is vital. It creates an ecosystem where women are not just recipients of aid but are celebrated for their resilience and recognised as key drivers of national development. By promoting inclusivity, the DBN is helping to reshape societal perceptions, fostering an environment where female entrepreneurs are seen as essential contributors to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Strategic Partnerships for a Wider Reach
Understanding that the challenge of women’s economic exclusion is too vast for any single institution to tackle alone, the DBN has also been proactive in forging strategic partnerships. By collaborating with other financial institutions, development agencies, and business development service providers, the Bank amplifies its impact. These partnerships facilitate a holistic approach to empowerment, ensuring that women who receive funding also have access to the mentorship, market linkages, and advanced training necessary to succeed.
This collaborative model ensures that the annual disbursements, which run into billions of naira yearly, are deployed effectively, with a high priority on reaching women at the grassroots level. The focus is on creating a sustainable support system that nurtures businesses from inception to maturity.
A Vision for the Future
Having already attained credible and measurable achievements in the realm of women’s development, the DBN, under Dr Okpanachi’s stewardship, shows no signs of slowing down. The 2026 IWD serves as a springboard for the next phase of its mission: to elevate the activities of women’s emancipation to an unprecedented level in Nigeria.
The Bank’s work is a testament to the profound truth that empowering a woman is tantamount to empowering an entire household and, ultimately, the world. By consistently providing the tools—both financial and educational—for women to thrive, the Development Bank of Nigeria is not just contributing to the accelerated growth of the country’s GDP; it is building a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous future for all Nigerians. As the nation reflects on the progress made this International Women’s Day, the role of institutions like the DBN in making that progress possible stands as a powerful model for public and private sector collaboration.
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Contact: For further inquiries, please contact the writer via yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
