The Alternative Bank Redefines Agrifinance for Women, Youth

The Alternative Bank is rewriting the rules of agricultural financing in Nigeria — and this time, women and young people are in the driver’s seat.
At the Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) 2025 in Abuja, the Bank’s Executive Director (South), Korede Demola-Adeniyi, unveiled an ambitious expansion of non-interest financial facilities designed to give women and youth a stronger foothold in agriculture through accessible funding, financial literacy, and risk-sharing partnerships.
“We don’t call what we do loans because we work hand-in-hand with beneficiaries,” she explained. “We provide facilities at next to nothing, particularly to support women. Since we share both the risk and the profit, our focus is on creating lasting impact for everyone involved.”
Unlike conventional banks that charge interest and leave farmers to bear the weight of uncertainty, The Alternative Bank operates on an ethical, partnership-driven model where both the Bank and the beneficiary rise or fall together. The goal, Demola-Adeniyi said, is to make agriculture a space of shared prosperity, not shared struggle.
Already, the Bank’s inclusive approach is changing lives. In Kano State, more than 120 women have benefited from a tricycle empowerment scheme designed to improve both livelihoods and community safety.
“These women, once underserved, now earn steady incomes transporting other women and children,” she noted. “Beyond the financial benefits, the initiative has reduced risks of assault and kidnapping — it’s empowerment with dignity and security.”
In Kaduna, The Alternative Bank has launched a ginger production project exclusively for women farmers. By partnering with development institutions, the Bank is tackling issues of price volatility and market access — ensuring participants earn fairly and sustainably.
To maintain close contact with remote communities, the Bank has also established a network of empowered agents serving as its eyes and ears on the ground — connecting farmers to support, gathering feedback, and helping shape responsive financial solutions.
“We want to remain effective in areas where banks can’t always be physically present,” Demola-Adeniyi said. “Our agents keep us close to the people we serve.”
Looking ahead, the Bank will soon launch a dedicated agriculture product designed to embed women and youth more deeply in key value chains — scaling access to ethical, non-interest, risk-sharing finance across the country.
“Our vision is simple,” Demola-Adeniyi concluded. “To make agriculture truly inclusive — where finance becomes a bridge to opportunity, not a barrier.”
For updates on the upcoming launch and existing facilities, The Alternative Bank encouraged interested farmers, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs to visit its website or any of its nationwide branches.