Access Bank’s US$100m fresh facility for empowerment of Nigerian MSMEs: Official

*Access Bank Plc discloses its significant financing will support Nigerian privately-owned MSMEs, small corporates, and family-owned businesses, particularly focusing on promoting female entrepreneurship and economic empowerment

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Access Bank Plc has successfully closed a US$100 million senior loan facility with a consortium of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)

The consortium was led by the German DFI DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, and supported by FinDev Canada, Amsterdam-based asset manager ILX, and Austrian DFI OeEB, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG.

ConsumerConnect reports Access Bank said the fresh significant financing would support privately-owned MSMEs, small corporates, and family-owned businesses across Nigeria, with a particular focus on promoting female entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

Why focus on women-owned and women-managed businesses

The leading financial institution in Africa also said least 30 percent of the new loan facility would be dedicated to gender lens investing in the spirit of the 2X Challenge, ensuring that women-owned and women-managed businesses are prioritised.

This initiative is crucial in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where supporting women entrepreneurs and MSMEs can drive job creation and contribute to reducing inequality.

Speaking on the partnership with the international finance institutions, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director (GMD) of Access Bank Plc, remarked: “At Access Bank, we remain steadfast in our commitment to driving economic transformation and fostering inclusive growth across all the countries we operate.

“This partnership not only strengthens our ongoing efforts to empower women in business but also reinforces our support for Nigeria’s MSME sector, which plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic development.”

Ogbonna stated: “Through strategic collaborations like this, we continue to enhance opportunities for underserved communities, and we look forward to building on this success to impact even more lives across Africa.”

The bank further noted that the latest facility marked the fourth collaboration between DEG and Access Bank Group.

It, however, said was equally the first time in their eight-year partnership that DEG’s has acted as the lead arranger in the transaction.

DEG’s investment in the deal amounts to USD 25 million, strengthening the long-term relationship between the two institutions, Access Bank stated.

DEG CEO: We’re empowering female entrepreneurs, investing in Nigerian economy

In his comments on the transaction, Roland Siller, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DEG said: “This financing marks a major step in our ongoing commitment to supporting inclusive growth in Africa.

“By partnering with Access Bank, we are not just empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening MSMEs but also investing in the future of Nigeria’s economy.”

Siller also remarked: “This collaboration, which has blossomed over the last eight years, goes beyond just providing funding and speaks to our shared commitment in creating sustainable, long-term opportunities that foster job creation and innovation.

“At DEG, we are focused on helping businesses in developing and emerging markets thrive, offering not just financial support but also advisory services that help them scale and succeed.

“Our work with Access Bank is a clear example of how we can build stronger economies through impactful, sustainable investments.”

It is recalled that Access Bank Plc, in 2024, made a significant social and environmental impact across the African continent, touching millions of lives and earning multiple industry accolades.

The banking institution, through various corporate social investment initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, health, and the environment, also reached over 21 million individuals across the continent.

Courtesy of its W-Initiative, the Access Bank also noted it disbursed loans to over a million women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) while advancing financial inclusion and gender empowerment in Africa.