DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme 2024 for Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs

The 2024 DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme is now open for applications. Capacity building is a core mandate of the Development Bank of Nigeria, and DBN is committed to building the Capacity of the Nigerian MSMEs to enable them formalize, grow and become more bankable to get easy access to available credit.

This year, we would be deploying the DBN Learning Management System (LMS)- a free learning portal with carefully curated self-paced courses. The portal is open to all Nigerian MSMEs who are interested in acquiring the right knowledge needed to succeed in doing business in Nigeria.

In addition, DBN will be selecting the best businesses to attend a face-to-face training. This physical session would be an opportunity for businesses to practically apply important principles to their various businesses, discuss and receive business support in specific areas of need. All businesses will be eligible to pitch their business value proposition and some businesses will be selected to receive grant funding.

Eligibility Criteria

• Owner of business must be 18 years and above
• Business owner must be a citizen or legal resident of Nigeria
• The business must be based in Nigeria
• The business must be for profit from any sector
• Applicant must be available to commit to the training schedule once accepted

Selection Criteria

• Bankability – Level of readiness to access credit
• Feasibility and Sustainability of the business model
• Scalability – Demonstrates potential for growth of business to create jobs

Training Format:

The programme takes a blended learning format approach of virtual and physical training.

• Virtual Training: The Virtual training is a self-paced comprehensive curriculum of the basic business principles broken down into 9 modules and will be implemented using the DBN learning management platform of the BizAid App.
• Onsite Training: This is a 5-day intense practical training and the curriculum is based on a needs assessment of the shortlisted businesses. A total of 350 businesses will be shortlisted for this to be trained in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
• Pitching Session: All businesses will be eligible to pitch their business value proposition and 25 businesses will be selected to receive grant funding of N500,000 each.

Activities Start and End Date

• Registration and Online training on the DBN Biz Aid: Date: 06-May
• Application process for face to face training: Date: 10 July – 17 July
• Selection and announcement of selected candidates: Date: 24 July – 25 July
• Face to face training in Abuja: Date: 31 July – 04 August
• Face to face training in Lagos: Date: 14 August – 18 August
• Face to face training in Port Harcourt: Date: 25 August – 01 Sept.

Application Process

• All applications must be submitted online through the application portal.
• Interested businesses must register on the DBN BizAid application and must complete a minimum of 4 mandatory courses on the BizAid Learning management platform and obtain an average score of 70%.The courses that must be completed are:a. Accounting & Bookkeeping,b. Sustainability for MSMEs,c. Marketing and Sales Techniques,d. Credit Management/Access to Finance.
• All businesses who have completed the 4 courses by September 23rd will receive an email with a link to apply for the face-to-face training.
• Upon submission of the application form, an email confirming receipt will be sent to the applicant within a 24-hour period.
• Applicants will be screened and shortlisted from the close of the application based on the eligibility criteria.
• Selection will be carried out using the defined selection criteria from the pool of shortlisted applications.
• Communication with successful applicants shall be by email to the email address provided and a phone call to the phone number provided on the application form.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme