The Alternative Bank has unveiled a new initiative aimed at empowering women in rural communities through digital skills and business development.
The “Alternative Bank‑Utiva Women in Tech Scholarship” will support 20 women entrepreneurs in its first cohort starting November 2025.
During a virtual event to mark the International Day for Rural Women, Korede Demola‑Adeniyi, Executive Director (South) of the bank, said: “Rural women are the heartbeat of food systems, the lifeline of families, and the silent architects of community resilience. Empowering rural women is a moral imperative as much as it is smart economics and a cornerstone of sustainable national growth.”
The scholarship will equip beneficiaries with digital skills, innovation design, and business growth training. The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader strategy to foster inclusive financial opportunities and bridge the gender and digital divide in Nigeria’s rural areas.
Eyitayo Ogunmola, CEO of Utiva, highlighted the importance of digital skills for women, stating, “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 pathways for inclusion, innovation, and long‑term economic empowerment.”
The event’s theme, “Rural Women and MSMEs: Driving Sustainability, Strengthening Economies, Securing Our Shared Tomorrow,” brought together policymakers, development partners, and thought leaders. Participants discussed strategies to strengthen rural women’s economic agency, improve access to finance, and promote sustainable development.
By launching this scholarship, The Alternative Bank reinforces its commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and ethical finance models that empower women-led enterprises, strengthen local economies, and support Nigeria’s long-term economic resilience.