The Alternative Bank has called for a national re-orientation that places human capital development at the centre of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

The bank declared that no meaningful progress could be achieved without deliberate investment in the skills and creativity of the country’s youth.

Speaking at the Jericho Businessmen Club’s (JBC) third annual socio-economic summit, the bank joined industry leaders, academics and policymakers to explore sustainable strategies for bridging Nigeria’s widening digital skills gap.

The Executive Director (South), Alternative Bank, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, said Nigeria’s quest for genuine nation-building must go beyond traditional funding models to embrace a more holistic approach that nurtures talent, supports innovation and expands opportunities for young people.

She said: “Technology is the most potent equaliser in modern commerce, and by investing in the technological upliftment of our youth, we are future-proofing our economy.

“We believe in providing alternatives not just in finance, but in opportunity, ensuring that local talent has the tools and environment to compete globally.”

According to her, the bank believed in providing alternatives not just in finance, but in opportunity, ensuring that local talent had the tools and environment to compete globally.

Demola-Adeniyi added that the bank was also exploring strategic partnerships formed during the summit to introduce new non-interest financing schemes tailored specifically to tech entrepreneurs, innovation hubs and vocational skill development initiatives.

These programmes, she said, would support local innovators in building solutions that meet global standards. Demola-Adeniyi expressed that strengthening Nigeria’s technology ecosystem was essential for diversifying the economy beyond oil, attracting foreign investment and reducing youth unemployment.