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The Alternative Bank, in a show of commitment to women’s empowerment, convened global development voices recently in a virtual event to mark the International Day for Rural Women, themed “Rural Women and MSMEs: Driving Sustainability, Strengthening Economies, Securing Our Shared Tomorrow.”
The event brought together policymakers, thought leaders and international development partners to celebrate the contributions of rural women and chart new pathways for their inclusion in the digital and financial economy.
Delivering her welcome address, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Executive Director (South) at The Alternative Bank, described the day as “a call to action,” pledging the Bank’s continued investment in inclusive finance and women-led enterprise.
“Rural women are the heartbeat of food systems, the lifeline of families, and the silent architects of community resilience,” Demola-Adeniyi said. “Empowering rural women is both a moral imperative and smart economics. The doors of The Alternative Bank remain open to partner, finance ideas, and co-create sustainable solutions that uplift women and strengthen communities.”
In a major highlight of the event, she announced the launch of the Alternative Bank–Utiva Women in Tech Scholarship, designed to equip 20 women entrepreneurs with digital and business innovation skills. The inaugural cohort, set to begin in November 2025, will empower beneficiaries to scale their enterprises and drive participation in the digital economy.
Eyitayo Ogunmola, Chief Executive Officer of Utiva, hailed the collaboration as a game-changer for women’s digital inclusion.
“When women are equipped with the right digital skills, they don’t just transform their businesses — they transform their communities,” he said. “This partnership with The Alternative Bank is about creating real pathways for innovation and long-term economic empowerment.”
Representing the Federal Government, Hon. Gift Johnbull, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), lauded the initiative and reaffirmed government’s support for rural women’s empowerment.
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“Women in our rural areas form the backbone of food production — they make up about 70% of our food system,” she said. “Yet, they still face barriers in education, finance, and access to productive resources. We are working to remove those barriers permanently.”
Also speaking on behalf of the UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, Osalobo Osemhenjie, Programme Specialist at UN Women, outlined the agency’s ongoing interventions — from business kits and rice milling machines to renewable energy solutions for women across multiple Nigerian states.
The keynote paper titled “From Fields to Frontlines: Empowering Rural Women and Women MSMEs as Architects of Climate Resilience and Sustainable Prosperity,” was delivered by Kemi Ayanda, Economic Development and Trade Strategist for Africa and the Middle East.
She argued that the transformation of rural economies “begins not with funding, but with reimagining systems that see women as stabilisers and resilience as a true economic asset.”
Among other distinguished speakers were 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, The Alternative Bank.
The event also featured messages of solidarity from global partners, including Ellen T. Johnson, Country Head, Commonwealth Businesswomen Africa (Gambia), and interactive sessions that celebrated the resilience, leadership, and innovation of rural women.
By convening this dialogue, The Alternative Bank reaffirmed its mission to build ethical, sustainable, and inclusive finance systems that empower women, strengthen local economies, and contribute to a resilient Nigerian future.
