DEVELOPMENT BANK OF NIGERIA ADVANCES INAUGURAL GREEN CLIMATE FUND SUBMISSION WITH STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ON MSME CLIMATE FINANCE PROGRAMME
The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) on 13th May 2026 convened a Stakeholder Consultation on its proposed Programme: Unlocking Climate Finance at Scale: MSME Low-Carbon Transition and Agricultural Resilience in Nigeria, as part of its engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to mobilise climate finance for Nigerian MSMEs.
The Programme comprises a Climate Finance Facility and a technical assistance component for participating financial institutions and MSMEs. It is designed to unlock climate-resilient and low-carbon investment by Nigerian MSMEs. The Climate Finance Facility is structured as a multi-sector vehicle with climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy as anchor sectors, alongside other eligible sectors including energy efficiency and low-carbon transport. The Programme will target over 50,000 MSME direct beneficiaries over a five-year implementation period, with particular emphasis on women-led enterprises and smallholder farmers operating in climate-sensitive sectors.
The Consultation brought together representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, regulators, development partners, financial institutions, private sector operators, MSME associations and civil society representatives. Their inputs are expected to strengthen the design of the Programme and demonstrate the strong country ownership that underpins DBN’s engagement with the GCF.
Delivering the opening remarks, the Executive Director of DBN, Mrs. Ijeoma D. Ozulumba, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to climate finance as a part of its development mandate.
“DBN is committed to ensuring that Nigerian MSMEs are not left behind in the global transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. The inputs received today from our stakeholders will help us design a Programme that is responsive, credible and ready for submission to the Green Climate Fund,” she said.
By directly operationalising Nigeria’s NDC 3.0, which prioritises climate-smart agriculture, resilient livelihoods and the mobilisation of climate finance, the Programme represents a significant step in DBN’s mission to position Nigerian MSMEs at the centre of an inclusive low-carbon transition.
