The Alternative Bank has highlighted its commitment to inclusive finance and women’s economic empowerment with the launch of the Alternative Bank–Utiva Women in Tech Scholarship. The programme, announced during a virtual event marking the International Day for Rural Women 2025, aims to equip 20 female entrepreneurs with digital and business innovation skills to support their participation in the technology and financial sectors.
The event, themed “Rural Women and MSMEs: Driving Sustainability, Strengthening Economies, Securing Our Shared Tomorrow,” brought together policymakers, business leaders, and development partners to recognise the role of rural women and discuss approaches to increasing their engagement in the digital economy.
Speaking at the session, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Executive Director (South) at The Alternative Bank, described the commemoration as symbolic of the work required to support women-led economic progress. “Rural women are the heartbeat of food systems, the lifeline of families, and the silent architects of community resilience,” she said. “Empowering rural women is both a moral imperative and smart economics. The doors of The Alternative Bank remain open to partners, finance ideas, and co-create sustainable solutions that uplift women and strengthen communities.”
The scholarship, developed in partnership with Utiva, will begin its first cohort in November 2025, offering training in digital literacy, innovation, and business transformation. Participants will be supported to scale their ventures and engage more effectively in digital commerce.
Utiva Chief Executive Officer Eyitayo Ogunmola said the partnership would expand opportunities for women who are often excluded from technology-driven growth. “When women are equipped with the right digital skills, they don’t just transform their businesses, they transform their communities. This partnership with The Alternative Bank is about creating real pathways for innovation and long-term economic empowerment,” he noted.
Government officials also backed the initiative. Hon. Gift Johnbull, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), pointed to women’s critical role in Nigeria’s food production landscape. “Women make up about 70% of our food system, yet many still face barriers in education, finance, and access to productive resources. We are working to remove those barriers permanently,” she said.
UN Women expressed continued support for gender-focused economic programmes. Representing the Country Representative, Osalobo Osemhenjie, Programme Specialist, cited ongoing efforts to supply business kits, rice milling equipment, and renewable energy tools to women across various regions.
In her keynote presentation, Kemi Ayanda, Economic Development and Trade Strategist for Africa and the Middle East, titled her address “From Fields to Frontlines: Empowering Rural Women and Women MSMEs as Architects of Climate Resilience and Sustainable Prosperity.” She emphasised the need to redesign systems to recognise the stabilising and economic contributions of rural women.
Other speakers included Hajia Fatima Dikko Radda, wife of the Executive Governor of Katsina; Rinsola Abiola, Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre; Judith Libaisi Kayoni, Global Rural and Social Development Expert (Kenya); Dr. Hadiza Yaro, Anglophone West Africa Sales Manager, SAKATA Vegetables Europe SAS; and Ameena Buhari-Mohammed, Private Banking & Wealth Management Lead at The Alternative Bank.
Additional messages of support came from multinational partners, including Ellen T. Johnson, Country Head of Commonwealth Businesswomen Africa (Gambia). The event also featured interactive sessions recognising the role of rural women in driving community-level resilience and enterprise.
By hosting the forum and introducing the scholarship scheme, The Alternative Bank reiterated its objective to develop ethical and inclusive financial structures that enable women to build sustainable livelihoods, strengthen local economies, and contribute to long-term national development.
