Fifteen entrepreneurs have received grants ranging from N150,000 to N3 million at the conclusion of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Entrepreneurship Training Programme (ETP), implemented in partnership with the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA).
The programme, which began with online learning sessions in January and culminated in a three-day physical workshop held from June 16 to 18, was designed to equip Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with the knowledge, skills and resources required to grow, sustaining their businesses.
Speaking at the grand finale, ASBA’s Acting Managing Director, Barr. Nonso Emeka, said the initiative had empowered no fewer than 3,000 entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and business development support, noting that the programme aligns with the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of fostering entrepreneurship, creating jobs and driving economic growth in the state.
According to him, every participant who successfully completed the programme emerged a winner, urging young people to embrace entrepreneurship and take advantage of available opportunities for self-reliance and wealth creation.
Representing DBN, Precious Ayegbayo said the programme was aimed at strengthening the capacity of entrepreneurs, making them investment ready and better positioned to access financing opportunities.
She explained that the top-performing participants distinguished themselves through innovation, strong business models and measurable social impact, adding that the Entrepreneurship Training Programme is conducted annually across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to support the growth and sustainability of small businesses.
Lead Consultant of Stage Africa Media and Advisory, Toyosi Ajayi, explained that participants progressed from an online learning phase to an intensive three-day practical training that covered key areas such as sales and marketing, financial management, innovation, legal business protection and record-keeping.
She described the initiative as a hands on platform that equips entrepreneurs with the tools needed to build resilient businesses, achieving long term growth.
Ajayi disclosed that participants who placed 11th to 15th received grants of N150,000 each, while those ranked 6th to 10th received N200,000 each. The fourth and fifth-place winners received N500,000 each, the third-place winner received N1 million, the runner-up received N1.5 million, while the overall winner was awarded N3 million.
She revealed that beneficiaries would continue to receive mentorship and monitoring support to help them implement and scale their business ideas. All participants were also presented with Certificates of Participation in recognition of their successful completion of the programme.
The overall winner, Chinwe Nlemoha, Co-founder of Leaner Educational Hub in Imo State, said the N3 million grant would be used to develop the organisation’s educational web application, expanding access to learning resources for children.
Expressing gratitude to DBN, ASBA and other programme partners, Nlemoha described the support as a significant boost to the organisation’s mission of improving literacy and numeracy outcomes among young learners.