The Alternative Bank has stated that fixing Northern Nigeria's education challenges demands real investment in financing, technology, teacher development and learning infrastructure, not mere sympathy. The bank made this position known on Tuesday following the maiden All Northern Schools Conference 2026 held in Kano, where it restated its commitment to education, financial inclusion and human capital development across the region.

Garba Mohammed, Executive Director, Commercial and Institutional Banking (Middle, South and East) at The Alternative Bank, noted that schools in the region needed sustainable support systems to improve learning outcomes and widen access to quality Education. His goodwill message, delivered on his behalf by Muhammad Danbichi, Regional Business Executive for Commercial and Institutional Banking (North West 1), stated: "Northern schools do not need sympathy. They need tools, finance, trained teachers, and partners who stay after the conference ends."

Danbichi explained that the region must move past traditional methods to prepare children for a fast changing world, adding that repositioning schools means embracing technology so Institutions can thrive rather than merely survive.

The three day conference, themed "Repositioning Northern Schools for Innovation, Sustainability and Impact," drew school proprietors, education leaders, policymakers, regulators, traditional rulers and development partners from the 19 Northern states. It was convened by Dr Hadiza Baba, President of Intercontinental Private Schools, Kano, in partnership with TeamMasters Limited.

The bank disclosed that Northern Nigeria accounts for a large share of the country's out of school children, with schools battling persistent gaps in financing, teacher capacity, learning outcomes and infrastructure. Mohammed revealed that the bank is investing in initiatives targeting foundational learning, teacher effectiveness and literacy, spanning educational technology for early grade reading and numeracy, teacher empowerment for inclusive learning, and broader literacy access.

Among its interventions, the bank highlighted the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment programme in Sokoto State, which has reached 21,726 adolescent girls across 10 local government areas. It also unveiled education focused products, including free Point of Sale terminals for participating schools to digitise tuition payments, and its EduFund product offering non interest payment plans from primary school through postgraduate studies. School staff can access AltMobile and AltPro digital banking platforms, while institutions can use AltMall to procure teaching materials.

The conference featured a keynote from former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, alongside officials from the Kano State Ministry of Education and the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board. The bank linked its participation to its HEART Strategy, covering Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Technology, noting it has trained teachers through the Busayo Ademuyiwa Foundation and reached students nationwide via AltInstitute.