Development Bank of Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Economic Empowerment at IWD 2026 Event

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has reiterated its commitment to advancing women’s entrepreneurship and leadership as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.

Speaking after the bank’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 event, Ijeoma Ozulumba Doris, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of DBN, described the occasion as a “full circle moment,” highlighting the institution’s continued focus on gender inclusion.

The event featured keynote remarks from Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who delivered what attendees described as a strong call for a paradigm shift in supporting women entrepreneurs and leaders across sectors.

Also in attendance were prominent business leaders, including Folakemi Fatogbe, a DBN Director and former Director of Risk Management at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Ada Osakwe, founder of Nuli Foods and Director at the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.

According to Doris, gender inclusion remains central to DBN’s mandate, driven by the recognition that women continue to face structural barriers in accessing finance, markets, and business opportunities. She noted that addressing these disparities is critical to building a resilient and inclusive economy.

Since its establishment in 2017, DBN has supported more than 700,000 women-owned and women-led businesses, disbursing loans totaling approximately ₦350 billion. The bank has also embedded female entrepreneurship as a priority segment across its operations, influencing product design, partnerships, and capital deployment strategies.

These initiatives span key sectors such as green finance, livestock, trade, healthcare, and education, and are supported through a mix of financial instruments including guarantees, blended finance, equity funds, and reimbursable grants.

Despite the progress, DBN leadership emphasized that efforts to empower women entrepreneurs must continue, noting that sustained intervention is necessary to close existing gaps and unlock broader economic potential.

The bank encouraged female entrepreneurs seeking to scale their businesses to explore available programs and resources through its official platforms.