The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has officially opened applications for the 2026 Entrepreneurship Training Programme (ETP) 8.0, a flagship initiative designed to equip Nigerian entrepreneurs, startups, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with practical business skills, mentorship opportunities, and access to funding.
The programme is completely free and offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable entrepreneurial knowledge, compete for grants, and access cash rewards through the DBN BizAid learning platform.
Since its launch, the DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme has helped thousands of Nigerian business owners improve their operations, strengthen financial management, and become investment-ready businesses.
Benefits of the DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme 8.0
Participants who successfully complete the programme will enjoy:
- Free entrepreneurship and business training
- Flexible self-paced online learning
- Access to industry experts and mentors
- Networking opportunities with entrepreneurs nationwide
- Business growth and financial management skills
- Eligibility for physical workshops
- Opportunity to pitch business ideas
- Access to grant funding opportunities
- Cash rewards through the Reward4Learning Initiative
- Nationally recognized DBN training certificates
- Access to the DBN Academy Community
Grant Opportunities
Outstanding participants may qualify for:
- Access to a ₦100 million grant pool
- Individual grants of up to ₦3 million
- Additional cash prizes and incentives worth over ₦50 million
- Sustainability grant awards for environmentally friendly business solutions
Mandatory Courses
Applicants must complete at least four mandatory courses on the DBN Learning Platform:
- Accounting & Bookkeeping
- Marketing and Sales Techniques
- Sustainability for Small Businesses
- Credit Management and Access to Finance
Participants are expected to score at least 80% in the mandatory courses to improve their chances of being selected for the next stage of the programme.
DBN Training Portal
nterested applicants should register on the DBN Learning Platform and begin the required training courses immediately.
