The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has committed a $75 million financing facility to the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) to expand access to funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly businesses in export-oriented sectors and the creative economy.
The facility, which will be channelled through DBN’s participating financial institutions (PFIs), is designed to provide eligible businesses with funding for working capital, asset acquisition, pre-export and post-export activities, as well as supply chain operations.
Businesses operating in fashion, film, music, design and other creative industries are among the intended beneficiaries.
The commitment was announced during the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), held in Lagos, where Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, and Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DBN, led the ceremonial signing on behalf of their institutions.
The facility, in line with Afreximbank’s Export SME Development Programme, will combine financing with capacity-building and export-readiness support to equip beneficiary businesses with the skills, tools and market knowledge needed to strengthen their operations, improve competitiveness and access regional and international markets.
