The Bank of Industry (BOI) disbursed a record-breaking ₦644.9 billion to businesses across various sectors in 2025, marking a 26 percent increase from the ₦510.9 billion released in 2024 and supporting or creating 1.68 million jobs.

BOI Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Olasupo Olusi disclosed the performance figures during a media roundtable with business editors in Lagos.

"In 2025, we disbursed ₦644.9bn, the highest amount ever by the Bank," Olusi stated.

According to the bank’s 2025 Annual Development Impact Report, the financial interventions reached 12,501 enterprises. Large enterprises accounted for 59 percent of the total disbursements, small and medium enterprises received 29 percent, nano businesses took seven percent, and micro enterprises accounted for five percent.

The performance falls midway through the bank's 2025–2027 Corporate Strategy, which aims to double its loan book, total disbursements, and development impact within three years across six core areas: MSME finance, infrastructure, women and gender, youth and skills, climate and sustainability, and the digital economy.

Olusi highlighted that micro, small, and medium enterprises received 41 percent of overall funding, exceeding the institution's 35 percent target. Additionally, women-owned businesses received ₦120.9 billion, while women and youth-led enterprises collectively accounted for 20 percent of total funding.

Within the infrastructure sector, BOI deployed over ₦108 billion, including the rollout of 100 mini-grids that connected 11,777 households and commercial setups to electricity.

"For our large enterprise lending, 80 per cent now goes to manufacturing and infrastructure, because these are the sectors that create the most jobs and output for every naira we lend," Olusi added.

To sustain its lending capacity, the development finance institution secured foreign and domestic capital, including an oversubscribed ₦250 billion Development Bond, €85 million from the European Investment Bank for agriculture, and €50 million for local healthcare manufacturing.

Looking ahead, BOI plans to consolidate its capital deployment under the National Industrial Finance Compact in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, while expanding its ICT portfolio via the iDICE programme.

"Our mission is simple: finance what Nigeria makes, and create jobs for Nigerians," Olusi concluded.

ID