Apply Now: Nigerian Entrepreneurs Can Access ₦5m in DBN, Intermarc Training Scheme 2025
- Nigerian business owners have the opportunity to get N5 million to grow their businesses
- The development comes as Intermarc Consulting has partnered with the DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme
- Apart from the N5 million grant, the programme offers mentorship, training, and networking support for small business owners
Pascal Oparada, a reporter for Legit.ng, has over ten years of experience covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy.
Small business owners in Nigeria now have another opportunity to scale their ventures, as the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has partnered with Intermarc Consulting to launch the DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme (ETP) 2025.
The scheme, which remains open until September 30, 2025, offers funding opportunities of up to ₦5 million, along with mentorship, training, and networking support.
Source: Getty Images
What the DBN-Intermarc programme offers
This initiative aims to strengthen Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with a special focus on entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s North-East, where businesses often struggle with access to funding and sustainable growth opportunities.
The DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme 2025 is designed to build capacity for Nigerian MSMEs through:
- Free Online Training: Hands-on business and financial management skills.
- Access to Funding: Connections to DBN’s partner financial institutions for loans and grants.
- Mentorship & Guidance: Support from experts to help entrepreneurs navigate business challenges.
- Networking Opportunities: Building partnerships with fellow business owners and financial institutions.
- Certification: A DBN certificate upon completion of training.
- Business Plan Assessment: Presentations at regional workshops to attract feedback and potential funding.
By combining capacity-building with access to finance, the program provides more than just funding—it equips entrepreneurs with the tools to run sustainable and scalable businesses.
Who can apply?
The scheme targets MSMEs across Nigeria, but gives special priority to entrepreneurs in the North-East region, where economic activities are often stifled by security challenges and weak infrastructure.
Eligible applicants must own a registered business and be committed to attending all training sessions.
Applications close on September 30, 2025, and interested business owners are urged to apply early.
Government’s broader push for MSME growth
The DBN-Intermarc initiative is part of a wider ecosystem of government-backed entrepreneurial support programs.
For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES) has been providing funding and capacity support for graduates with innovative business ideas.
Similarly, past interventions like YouWin, which funded thousands of young entrepreneurs across Nigeria, demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to empowering business owners.
These schemes collectively reflect Nigeria’s recognition of MSMEs as the backbone of the economy, contributing significantly to job creation and GDP.
Why is it important?
With Nigeria’s inflationary pressures and a challenging business climate, schemes like the DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme give small business owners a lifeline.
The combination of funding, training, and mentorship provides not just financial relief but also long-term sustainability for entrepreneurs.
Source: UGC
As Nigeria pushes to diversify its economy away from oil, empowering small businesses remains a critical step in fostering inclusive growth.
3 funding opportunities for Nigerians in 2025
Legit.ng earlier reported that opportunities can transform lives, whether through funding, financial relief, or real-world exposure that shapes careers.
In 2025, several programmes stand out as life-changing for Nigerian youths, students, and entrepreneurs.
Among them are the UNICEF Remote Internship Program, the Nigerian Cash Transfer Program, and the SMEDAN Conditional Grant Scheme.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
