The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has awarded a total of ₦13 million in grants to three outstanding tech startups during the 2025 Techpreneur Summit held in Lagos, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive growth and innovation in Nigeria’s MSME sector.
The winning startups; BuyScrap, Qiqi Farms, and Eco-Cyclers were selected for their disruptive solutions in waste recycling and agribusiness. BuyScrap, a digital marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of recyclable materials, emerged as the top winner with ₦6 million. Qiqi Farms, which links local farmers to hospitality and export markets, received ₦4 million, while Eco-Cyclers, a youth-driven recycling startup in Enugu, earned ₦3 million.
The event, themed “CTRL + SHIFT: Tech Empowered Movement for Naija,”was described by DBN Managing Director and CEO, Tony Okpanachi, as a bold call to rethink the nation’s approach to enterprise development. He said the theme represents more than a digital shortcut, but a mindset reset powered by technology to build a resilient, inclusive business landscape.
“This Summit is not just about grants, it’s about igniting ideas and creating ecosystems that allow innovation to thrive. DBN is deeply invested in enabling MSMEs to scale through finance, partnerships, and strategic support,” Okpanachi said.
As part of this commitment, DBN unveiled a new digital data platform, the DBN Data Asset. Touted as the first of its kind, the platform is designed to enable data-driven decision-making across Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem. It offers real-time insights into business trends, regional performance, sector challenges, and growth opportunities, drawing from both DBN’s proprietary information and data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Describing the tool, Jeremy Dan Okayi, DBN’s Head of Strategy, Policy and Innovation, said, “This platform is a reservoir of insight, potential, and direction built over two years of research and collaboration. It empowers governments, investors, and entrepreneurs with the data needed to make smarter choices.”
The DBN Data Asset aligns with the bank’s broader AMPLIFI strategy, which integrates sustainability, digital transformation, and scalability into its core agenda. Initiatives like the Digital Shift Workshops and Eco-Innovation Challenge also form part of this forward-looking strategy.
In a closing keynote, a guest speaker commended DBN for taking a leadership role in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation financing. She challenged both public and private actors to reimagine how innovation is supported in Nigeria, saying:
“To the founders pitching here today,this is your time. Your creativity and resilience are what Nigeria needs. DBN isn’t just funding businesses , it’s amplifying a movement.”
She ended with a call to action: “CTRL + SHIFT isn’t just a theme, it’s a charge to all of us. Nigeria’s youth are not waiting for the future. They are building it. Let’s shift together and power a tech-driven transformation for our country.”
