The Alternative Bank (AltBank) has launched a new tech scholarship designed to empower women entrepreneurs with digital skills, innovation design, and business growth training.
The scholarship programme, set to begin in November 2025, is part of the bank’s broader Corporate Social Investment commitment aimed at bridging gender and digital divides. It seeks to equip women with tools to grow their enterprises and strengthen their participation in the fast-evolving digital economy.
Known as The Alternative Bank-Utiva Women in Tech Scholarship, the initiative was unveiled during a high-level virtual convening held recently to mark the International Day for Rural Women. The event, themed “Rural Women and MSMEs: Driving Sustainability, Strengthening Economies, Securing Our Shared Tomorrow,” gathered thought leaders, policymakers, and development partners to celebrate and empower rural women across Nigeria and Africa.
“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 doors of The Alternative Bank remain open, ready to partner, finance ideas, and co-create sustainable solutions that empower women and strengthen communities,” said Mrs Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Executive Director for South at The Alternative Bank.
Also speaking, Utiva’s Chief Executive, Eyitayo Ogunmola, said, “At Utiva, we believe that 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 for women shaping Africa’s future.”