President Bola Tinubu has commended the Bank of Industry (BOI) for achieving a record N636 billion in business financing in 2025, describing it as the highest annual lending performance in the bank’s history.
The President highlighted that this milestone signals improved institutional discipline and macroeconomic stability, which are unlocking long-term capital for productive sectors nationwide. “Expanding access to finance amid global capital tightening demonstrates the credibility of Nigeria’s reform programme,” he said.
MSME Financing Drives Job Creation
BOI’s facility reached over 7,000 enterprises, with sectoral allocations including N202 billion to agro-allied businesses, N100 billion to infrastructure projects, N79 billion to manufacturing, and N77 billion to extractive industries. Financing by enterprise size reflected inclusivity: nano businesses received N51 billion, micro enterprises N32 billion, SMEs N178 billion, and large firms N375 billion.
The interventions directly supported 1.6 million jobs, assisted 570 start-ups, and benefited over 957,400 Nigerians through the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme. Special initiatives included the Guaranteed Loans for Women Programme, which provided N10 billion, and youth-owned enterprises, which accessed N12 billion.
Infrastructure and Rural Impact
Key projects included upgrading a tomato processing plant from 3.1 to 10 metric tonnes per hour and integrating 47,508 smallholder farmers into formal processing value chains. BOI also deployed 100 mini-grids, connecting 11,777 new electricity customers and cutting over 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Digital and Creative Enterprise Investments
The Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises initiative prepared 500 founders for funding, supported 100 tech ventures, and trained 400 youths in innovation, impacting more than 300,000 Nigerians.
President Tinubu emphasised that these results highlight a growing culture of financial discipline and long-term investment, reinforcing Nigeria’s development finance framework.
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