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BOI Unveils Maiden Impact Report, Disburses N644.9bn In 2025
The Bank of Industry (BoI) has unveiled its maiden 2025 Annual Development Impact Report, with Managing Director Dr Olasupo Olusi describing the year as a defining moment in the Nigeria’s bank history.
Olusi, at the unveiling of the report in Abuja, yesterday said the 2025 marked the first full year of executing BOI’s 2025-2027 Corporate Strategy.
According to him, it is also the year the institution deliberately shifted from measuring success by disbursement volumes to measuring the development impact created.
He disclosed that the bank disbursed a total of N644.9 billion to nano, micro, small, medium and large enterprises across Nigeria in the year under review.
”Over 30 per cent of the financing went to nano and MSMEs, while more than 20 per cent was directed to gender and youth-focused enterprises to ensure inclusive growth.
”The interventions translated into a job impact of 1.68 million jobs, comprising direct, indirect and supported jobs across value chains nationwide.
”Financing cut across 14 industrial sectors in line with Nigeria’s industrialisation priorities,”he said.
He said that BOI strengthened value chains, expanded access to finance, and invested in critical infrastructure to enhance national productivity and competitiveness.
Olusi said the interventions translated into tangible impact.
“Most importantly, our interventions translated into tangible impact by supporting millions of jobs, reducing carbon emission, strengthening digital and other infrastructure, and empowering women and youth,” he said.
According to him, BOI exceeded its 2025 targets across six thematic priorities: Infrastructure, MSMEs, Digital, Youth, Gender and Climate.
He said that the bank strengthened value chains, expanded access to finance, and invested in critical infrastructure to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
He said BOI’s nationwide presence was key to delivery, with 37 offices in 34 states enabling capital deployment in urban and underserved areas.
The bank also achieved over 95 per cent disbursement as the implementation agency for the Federal Government’s N200 billion MSME industrialisation Fund.
The managing director announced new programmes launched in 2025 to address specific gaps.
He listed them to include the Rural Area Programme on Investment for Development, RAPID, the Guaranteed Loan for Women, GLOW, and the iDICE programme for digital and creative enterprises.
He noted BOI’s role in strategic national projects, with over N35 billion for broadband rollout, N30.6 billion for power infrastructure, and over N20 billion for aviation upgrades.
He said that these underscored the bank’s contribution to productivity enablers and emission reduction.
To reinforce accountability, Olusi said the report was independently assured by KPMG and the Policy Innovation Center.
He described the report as BOI’s institutional expression of commitment to impact, and said the new Development Impact Framework will enable more precise measurement in the years ahead.
Looking to 2026, the managing director said the priority was to scale impact by deepening support for enterprises and value chains that create jobs, add value locally and strengthen competitiveness.
He thanked the board, government, development partners including Afreximbank, World Bank, AfDB, EU, UNDP and UNIDO, and staff for their collaboration.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, said BOI had set a reference standard for public institutions with its 2025 Annual Development Impact Report.
He said that the report focused on outcomes and real effects rather than just disbursement figures.
He said that BOI’s work aligned with with President Bola Tinubu’s development priorities through expanded MSME financing, support for youth-led enterprises, gender inclusion, and innovation-driven businesses, with emphasis on climate, sustainability, and technology.
The minister linked BOI’s interventions to the Nigerian Industrial Policy (NIP), formally launched on Feb. 17, 2026.
He described the NIP as a roadmap to reposition industry for growth, jobs, value addition and exports, and stressed that implementation, not policy alone, transforms economies.
Enoh disclosed that a 90-day implementation report on the NIP has been released.
“It highlights progress with the AfDB on the Industrial Cluster Programme, work on a proposed $350 billion MSME Development Fund, trainings by NADDC and IETF, and African quality marks awarded to 121 companies for AfCFTA competitiveness. ”
He described BOI as a strategic partner in industrial transformation, not just a financier.
He said the ministry would continue working with BOI to strengthen industrial clusters, deepen MSME competitiveness, and support manufacturers, through an upcoming value chain summit to drive value addition and export earnings.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said that Nigeria’s biggest investment hurdle was not money but lack of bankable projects.
According to her project preparation is where vision becomes investment Ideas which should be turned into transactions before ambition can drive growth.
She anchored the push on the Renewed Hope Agenda and NDP 2026-2030, adding that hitting a 1 trillion dollars economy would take disciplined project prep, investment protection, and alignment of every naira with national priorities.
She said the global finance model had shifted from aid to investment-led partnerships.
”To match that, DFIs like BOI must become architects of investment ecosystems with transparency, global standards, and blended finance to de-risk MSMEs.”
The minister urged development partners to fund feasibility studies and support African credit rating systems to cut borrowing costs. “Investment follows preparation, and preparation thrives on partnership.
Good will messages were delivered by partners include the African Development Bank, European Union, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Agency France de Development among others.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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