The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched a nationwide capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening access to finance in Nigeria’s livestock sector, focusing on livestock-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).
The programme, implemented under the World Bank-funded Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) Project, commenced in Enugu State and will be extended to selected LPRES states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
DBN said the initiative is designed to address long-standing financing gaps in the livestock industry by equipping PFIs with the capacity to design and deploy financial products suited to the sector, while also improving the financial preparedness of livestock SMEs to access funding and scale their operations.
Beyond financing, the training is expected to deepen engagement between financial institutions and livestock enterprises, creating a platform for dialogue that improves understanding, collaboration and confidence across the value chain.
Regional training sessions are scheduled to hold in Enugu for the South-East, Adamawa for the North-East, Ondo covering the South-West and South-South, Kano for the North-West, and Kogi for the North-Central zone.
Participants include livestock SMEs, PFIs, officials of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, representatives of the LPRES National and State Coordinating Offices, as well as staff of DBN and ICGL. DBN disclosed that the programme is expected to reach at least 200 PFIs and 300 livestock SMEs nationwide, alongside other key sector stakeholders.
Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the programme is aimed at unlocking the economic potential of livestock enterprises as contributors to growth, job creation and food security. He noted that capacity-building remains critical to the sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises, adding that the training would strengthen the livestock sector and support national development goals.
DBN also disclosed that outstanding SMEs that demonstrate strong performance during the training sessions may qualify for a World Bank-approved performance-based grant.
According to the bank, the training curriculum was developed by its Project Implementation Unit and approved by the World Bank, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of PFIs and SMEs to deploy and access appropriate financing tools for livestock value-chain development, a core objective of the LPRES Project.
