Access Bank Secures $100 Million Facility to Empower Nigerian MSMEs and Women Entrepreneurs
Lagos, Nigeria — In a significant move toward financial inclusion and gender-focused economic empowerment, Access Bank Plc has secured a landmark $100 million senior loan facility from a coalition of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), led by the German investment arm DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, alongside FinDev Canada, ILX (Netherlands), and OeEB (Austria).
The facility is earmarked for the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and family-owned businesses in Nigeria, with a special emphasis on women-led and women-managed ventures, in alignment with the globally recognized 2X Challenge—a framework designed to mobilize capital for gender-smart investing in emerging markets.
Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, heralded the partnership as a transformative step forward. “This financing is more than a financial transaction—it’s a catalyst for inclusive growth,” Ogbonna stated. “By championing the MSME sector and female entrepreneurship, we’re driving job creation, economic participation, and a new wave of prosperity that will touch every community we serve.”
At least 30% of the total facility will be explicitly allocated to enterprises owned or led by women. This gender lens investment approach is crucial in a country like Nigeria, where women disproportionately face systemic barriers to accessing capital despite playing vital roles in commerce and enterprise.
The agreement marks the fourth collaboration between DEG and Access Bank Group over an eight-year relationship. However, this instance is particularly historic, as it is the first time DEG has acted as the lead arranger. DEG itself committed $25 million to the facility.
Roland Siller, CEO of DEG, emphasized the long-term developmental impact of the collaboration. “This facility represents a deepened partnership with Access Bank, focused on Africa’s future. It’s about giving MSMEs and female entrepreneurs the resources and confidence to grow, scale, and innovate. Africa’s economic trajectory depends on this kind of empowerment.”
The announcement follows an impressive track record by Access Bank in 2024. Through its renowned W-Initiative, Access Bank disbursed loans to over one million women-led businesses and reached more than 21 million people through social investment initiatives in education, health, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability across Africa.
As the continent continues to recover from the ripple effects of global economic challenges, this injection of capital and the strategic support it brings will serve as a cornerstone for a more inclusive and resilient Nigerian economy.
