The training programme, implemented under the World Bank–funded Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) Project, began in Enugu State and is expected to roll out across selected LPRES states in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
DBN stated that the initiative is designed to address long-standing financing gaps in Nigeria’s livestock sector by equipping PFIs with the skills needed to create and deploy tailored financial products, while also improving the financial readiness of livestock SMEs to access credit and scale their operations.
The programme provides a structured platform for dialogue between livestock enterprises and financial institutions, helping both sides better understand sector-specific risks, opportunities and financing needs.
To ensure national coverage, regional training sessions have been scheduled for Enugu in the South-East, Adamawa in the North-East, Ondo covering the South-West and South-South, Kano in the North-West, and Kogi in the North-Central zone.
Participants include livestock SMEs, PFIs, officials from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, representatives of LPRES National and State Coordinating Offices, as well as DBN and ICGL staff.
According to the bank, the programme is expected to reach at least 200 PFIs, 300 SMEs and other key stakeholders nationwide.
Speaking on the initiative, DBN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, also mentioned that the training is aimed at unveiling the economic potential of livestock enterprises as drivers of growth, employment and food security.
He stressed that capacity-building remains essential to the sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises, noting that the LPRES SME and PFI training will strengthen business resilience within the livestock value chain and support broader national development goals.
Dr Okpanachi added that the programme aligns with Nigeria’s economic priorities to reposition the livestock sector as a viable contributor to inclusive growth, climate-smart agriculture and youth employment.
DBN also disclosed that outstanding SMEs demonstrating strong performance during the training may qualify for a World Bank-approved performance-based grant, providing an additional incentive for innovation and best practices within the sector.
The training curriculum, developed by DBN’s Project Implementation Unit and approved by the World Bank, focuses on improving institutional capacity to deploy and access appropriate financing tools for livestock value-chain development, a core objective of the L-PRES Project.
Source: Leadership News
Image Credit: Development Bank of Nigeria Plc
