BOI Reports ₦636bn in 2025 Lending as Support Reaches MSMEs and Startups

The Bank of Industry (BOI) says it disbursed about ₦636 billion to businesses in 2025, as it expanded financing and support programmes for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), startups and larger companies.

In its report on 2025 operations, the development finance institution said disbursements included ₦51 billion to nano enterprises, ₦32 billion to micro businesses, ₦178 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises, and ₦375 billion to large enterprises. The bank said its activities helped create and retain a total of 1.6 million jobs during the year.

BOI also reported that more than 7,000 new MSMEs and 570 startups received support. The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme reached 957,400 beneficiaries, according to the bank’s account of its 2025 activities.

The bank highlighted targeted interventions for women- and youth-owned businesses. Its Guaranteed Loans for Women programme is a ₦10 billion facility offering affordable financing, while youth-owned enterprises received ₦12 billion in financing during the year. BOI also said its Rural Area Programme on Investment for Development supported 880 rural enterprises with more than ₦6.5 billion across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The figures illustrate the range of financing channels used to support businesses at different stages and scales. BOI’s MSME mandate combines lending with business advisory support, including assistance with financial management, business planning, enterprise development and value-chain financing.

Access to affordable and appropriately structured finance remains important for businesses seeking to acquire equipment, expand production, improve distribution or move into higher-value activities. However, the impact of lending programmes also depends on transparent access, effective project appraisal, repayment capacity and whether funding translates into sustainable business growth and jobs.

BOI’s 2025 results provide a snapshot of the scale of its intervention. The longer-term test will be whether supported enterprises can build productive capacity, remain competitive and sustain employment beyond the period of financing.

Sources: Bank of Industry, “Bank of Industry Records unprecedented lending to enterprises in 2025”; Bank of Industry, MSME programme information.