The African Export-Import Bank has committed $75m in financing to the Development Bank of Nigeria to expand access to credit for Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those operating in creative and export-oriented sectors. The agreement was signed during the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2026 in Lagos by Afreximbank's Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Kanayo Awani, and DBN's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Okpanachi.
The facility will be disbursed through DBN's network of participating financial institutions to support working capital, asset acquisition, export financing and supply chain activities. Businesses in fashion, film, music and design are among the intended beneficiaries. Under the arrangement, eligible businesses will be able to access financing for equipment purchases, production expansion, pre-export and post-export activities, and supply chain operations.
Awani said the partnership was designed to address financing constraints while helping Nigerian businesses develop capacity to compete in regional and international markets. "Our partnership with DBN goes beyond providing capital. We are taking an integrated approach that combines finance with capacity building, export-readiness support and access to markets," she said. The institutions will jointly develop a capacity-building programme to strengthen the ability of participating financial institutions to assess and finance export-oriented businesses.
Afreximbank will provide beneficiaries with access to its trade platforms, including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, MANSA, TRADAR and the African Trade Exchange. Additional market access support will be provided through the Africa Buyer Programme, the African Trade and Distribution Company and the Intra-African Trade Fair. Okpanachi described the agreement as an important step towards addressing financing difficulties facing Nigerian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, adding that the capacity-building and market-access components were particularly important.
The agreement forms part of Afreximbank's Export SME Development programme, which combines financing, technical assistance and market access initiatives to support African businesses. The CANEX Weekend 2026, held in Lagos from November 5 to 8, brought together creative entrepreneurs, investors, buyers and policymakers to explore financing and commercial opportunities.
For Nigerian small business owners and entrepreneurs, this facility offers access to cheaper funding for growth through a network of banks, combined with training and connections to buyers across Africa and beyond, potentially opening new export opportunities.