In a major move to strengthen basic education in Northern Nigeria, The Alternative Bank (AltBank) has introduced free payment terminals and innovative financing solutions to support schools and enhance early-grade learning outcomes.
The initiative, unveiled during the maiden All Northern Schools Conference (ANSC) 2026, is designed to improve access to quality education through technology-driven learning tools, teacher empowerment, and community literacy programmes.
Speaking at the conference themed “Repositioning Northern Schools for Innovation, Sustainability and Impact,” the Executive Director of Commercial and Institutional Banking (Middle, South and East) at The Alternative Bank, Garba Mohammed, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and preparing children for the future.
Represented by the Regional Business Executive for Commercial and Institutional Banking (North-West 1), Muhammad Danbichi, Mohammed stressed the need for schools across Northern Nigeria to embrace technology and modern learning approaches.
He highlighted key challenges facing the region, including the high number of out-of-school children, poor learning outcomes, limited teacher capacity, and inadequate access to modern educational infrastructure.
“We can no longer rely solely on traditional methods to prepare our children for the demands of the future. Repositioning our schools means embracing technology and ensuring our educational institutions are not just surviving, but thriving and making a real, lasting impact on society,” he said.
To address these challenges, AltBank outlined three strategic pillars guiding its education interventions:
- Deploying innovative technology to improve reading and numeracy skills among early-grade learners.
- Empowering educators with tools and training for inclusive, experiential, and 21st-century learning.
- Promoting literacy and access to knowledge across communities.
The conference, convened by Dr. Hadiza Nuhu Yusuf Baba, President of Intercontinental Private Schools, Kano, in collaboration with Team Masters Limited, provided school administrators and teachers with practical leadership and teaching strategies for the modern classroom.
The event also featured a keynote presentation by former Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, alongside contributions from senior officials of the Kano State Government, including representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
AltBank noted that its participation aligns with the education component of its HEART Strategy—a long-term impact framework focused on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Technology.
The three-day ANSC 2026 conference brought together school owners, policymakers, traditional rulers, educators, and development partners from all 19 Northern states to discuss innovative solutions for transforming education in the region.
