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Tag: Sterling Bank

  • Sterling Bank accelerates renewable energy transition

    Sterling Bank accelerates renewable energy transition

    Sterling Bank Limited has brought together stakeholders in the renewable energy industry to explore ways to accelerate action in the sector.

    The premier colloquium, held in Lagos on Monday, aimed to identify priority areas for action to increase energy access and drive economic growth in the quest to attain a one trillion-dollar economy.

    Managing Director, Sterling Bank Limited, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, gave the charge in his address at the colloquium organized with the theme: Beyond The Grid; Unlocking New Frontiers in Renewable Energy.

    The   CEO,   who   was   represented   by   Dele   Faseemo,   Group   Executive, Corporate & Investment Banking, explained that Sterling Bank will be paying closer attention to policy actions in two or three key priority areas, especially regulation and financing.

    He noted that by focusing on these areas, the Bank can do more to   drive   progress and expand access to energy, which he described   as   essential   for   supporting   economic   growth   and   overall development.

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    In a keynote address titled Scaling Electrification in Nigeria, The REA Impact, Managing Director and CEO of The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Abba Aliyu, spoke on the vision, mission and mandate of the agency.

    He noted that Nigeria requires about $26 billion to address its energy deficit. He said the energy transition in Nigeria is a strategic shift towards achieving universal, reliable and sustainable energy access by integrating the grid, mini-grid and off grid technologies while aligning with national development and climate goals.

    The CEO who was represented by Mr. Abba Hayatudden, Senior Advisor to the   MD,   said  “REA  is  strategically  expanding  and  optimizing  channels  to accelerate the adoption and sustainable growth of renewable energy acrossthe   country   in   the   areas   of   value   chain   development,   regulation enhancement,   funding   windows,   alternative   resources   and   technical standardization.”

    Minister   of   Power,   Adebayo   Adelabu,   commended   Sterling   Bank   for convening the conversation on renewable energy.

    He stated that the Federal Government has placed renewable energy and rural electrification at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The minister who was represented by Engineer Samuel Ayangeaor said, “The Federal   Ministry   of   Power   has   continued   to   expand   electricity   access   to underserved communities in a bid to drive economic growth, foster industrial activity and create jobs across the nation.”

    In his goodwill message, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy   and   Mineral   Resources,   noted   that   the   current   administration   is implementing the most ambitious energy transformation ever undertaken.

    He highlighted the state’s efforts in renewable energy and sustainability, including the two-gigawatt Lagos grid scale solar project.

    The CEO of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, emphasized the need for collective action. She urged participants not to allow the day’s deliberations   to   end   as   mere   conversations   or   points   documented   in   a communiqué.

    Instead, she encouraged everyone to leverage the strength of their   networks,   act   with   intention,   and   remain   focused   on   delivering meaningful impact.

    The colloquium featured two panel sessions on financing and scaling green energy solutions in Africa, among others.

  • Sterling Bank, Thunes partner on cross-border payments

    Sterling Bank, Thunes partner on cross-border payments

    Thunes has announced a landmark collaboration with Sterling Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading full-service commercial banks, to drive easy-access cross-border payments for Nigerians in the diaspora. This alliance ultimately ushers in a new standard for cross-border payments, empowering Nigerians abroad with a quicker and simpler method of sending funds home.

    With an estimated 17 million Nigerians living and working abroad, demand for fast, transparent and dependable financial connections to home has never been greater.

    By leveraging Thunes’ Direct Global Network, Sterling Bank is rolling out this enhanced capability across multiple European markets, giving customers abroad a more consistent way to support their families and manage finances.

    Thunes is a smart superhighway highway to move money around the world.

    This alliance means that new and existing Sterling Bank account holders can now enjoy seamless, instant payments across borders.

    Recent research released by Thunes revealed that for nearly half (46%) of diaspora consumers across Europe, sending money home is a regular and essential financial activity, comparable to paying rent or utilities.

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    Speaking on the development, SVP, Sales – Africa at Thunes, Daniel Parreira, said: “Welcoming Sterling Bank to our Direct Global Network marks another significant milestone in our expansion across Africa, and the trust in our infrastructure across the continent. Together, we’re enabling a new level of convenience, speed, and confidence for customers managing finances across borders. This alliance demonstrates our ongoing dedication to making global money movement instant, transparent and accessible for all.”

    Head, Switch & Remittances at Sterling Bank, Ayodeji Saba, said the partnership reflects the bank’s commitment to easing cross-border payment.

     “This partnership reflects Sterling Bank’s deep commitment to making it easier for Nigerians abroad to send money home. With Thunes’ trusted technology, we’re giving our customers a faster, more reliable, and more affordable way to fund their Sterling Bank accounts from their foreign bank accounts. It’s a major step forward in improving the experience for our diaspora community,” Saba said.

    This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of Thunes and Sterling Bank to financial inclusion, and community empowerment, helping people improves financial oversight while spending more effectively. It also supports Thunes’ mission to onboard the next billion end users in emerging markets into the global economy.

  • Sterling Bank, others partner to unlock $4.7b creative economy

    Sterling Bank, others partner to unlock $4.7b creative economy

    Sterling Bank was the headline sponsor of the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria x Made By Nigerians Festival 2025 (AFWN x MBN Fest 2025), in a strategic move aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s creative sector valued at $4.7 billion.

    The two-day event brought together Africa’s top designers and over 250 emerging fashion and trade entrepreneurs, providing a high-impact platform for Nigerian brands to showcase their creations, connect with local and international audiences and expand their commercial reach.

    The AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 took place at a pivotal time when fashion ranked among ithe fastest growing segments of the Nigerian creative economy.

    The fair spotlighted emerging designers with three to seven years of industry experience, increasing their visibility and strengthening opportunities for global market entry.

    This year’s edition also served as a Made By Nigerians-powered retail fair, enabling entrepreneurs to sell directly to thousands of visitors while building long-term brand recognition.

    Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank, Don Okpako said Sterling Bank remains a financial partner of choice for entrepreneurs whose ideas and enterprises are reshaping Nigeria’s growth narrative.

    According to him, in addition to its “HEART” focus areas- health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation, the bank has maintained consistent investment in the creative economy, supporting platforms that create jobs, strengthen communities and drive international recognition for Nigerian talent.

    He said: “Entrepreneurship has always shaped Nigeria’s progress. At Sterling, our role is to enable the people creating the value that moves this nation forward. Our partnership with the AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 reflects that commitment and we are proud to support the businesses driving creativity, growth and opportunity”.

    Read Also: Sterling Bank recommits to food security

    He emphasized fashion’s increasing role in youth employment and national visibility, noting that the partnership was both timely and strategic.

    Chief Project Officer, Made By Nigerians, Chidimma Okoli, said the collaboration advances  the organisation’s mission to empower Nigerian creators with access to markets, tools and visibility that support sustainable growth.

    According to her, as a platform committed to local production and expanding commercial pathways for homegrown brands, MBN continues to function as a springboard for designers and small businesses ready to scale.

    She described the collaboration as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s creative exports.

    She said: “The AFWN x MBN Fest 2025 created access where many entrepreneurs previously faced barriers. It gave Nigerian brands a space to be seen, connect with buyers and grow with confidence in a market that rewards authenticity and innovation”.

     She further noted that the fair aligns with MBN’s broader goal of creating measurable economic opportunity for entrepreneurs shaping Nigeria’s cultural and commercial identity.

    She pointed out that, founded to scale African design, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria has grown into a respected platform that nurtures creativity, drives innovation and expands global exposure for designers across the continent.

    She said: “Each edition introduces new voices to the runway while unlocking mentorship, training and commercial partnerships for young designers”.

    Founder and Executive Director, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and London, Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi shared her optimism for the 2025 edition.

    She said: “AFWN was created to help African designers scale and this partnership strengthens that purpose even further. Working with Sterling Bank and MBN increases the visibility, training and commercial support available to talents ready for global demand”.

    She added that the 2025 edition stands among the most inclusive and commercially impactful showcases to date.

    She pointed out that Sterling Bank’s collaboration with AFWN and MBN set the foundation for a strong end-of-year showcase of African creativity, entrepreneurship and ambition.

    She said the partnership highlighted the next generation of fashion innovators while strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global creative marketplace

  • Sterling Bank, EDC unite on certification

    Sterling Bank, EDC unite on certification

    Sterling Bank Limited has signed a Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) with Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) to certify graduates of its Non-Oil Export Academy.

    This strategic partnership underscores the Bank’s commitment to diversifying Nigeria’s economy by supporting non-oil export growth. This landmark agreement follows the recent launch of the Sterling Bank Non-Oil  Export  Academy, designed  to  position  Nigerian  exporters  for  global competitiveness.

    The launch was preceded by a series of nationwide training programs  in  Lagos,  Ondo,  and  Kano  states,  culminating  in  a  grand  finale themed “Excel in Non-Oil Export.”

    The initiative aims to equip exporters with practical tools  to  thrive  in  international markets, thereby  reducing  Nigeria’s reliance on oil revenues.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lagos, Sterling Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, affirmed that the Bank is intentional about creating  an  ecosystem  where  non-oil  exporters  are  well-informed  and equipped to advance national interests.

     “We are not just training people to understand how to export; we want to train them to be competitive exporters of non-oil products.

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     “Our goal  is  to  build  a  community  of  knowledgeable,  certified,  and  confident exporters who can collaborate to solve challenges beyond their immediate capacity. Our North Star is to reach a point where hundreds of people have completed this programme and are ready to compete on a global scale,” Suleiman said.

    Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director of  the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), expressed  enthusiasm  for  the  collaboration.  “Having  spent  the  last  twenty-three years deepening the competencies of entrepreneurs, we thoroughly understand what is needed and are excited to be part of this initiative,” she noted.

    Dr. Okekearu emphasized that the export market has been neglected for too long. “With the right structure, standards, and mindset in place, entrepreneurs passing through this programme will help create not only a better Nigeria but more sustainable communities,” she added, noting that she looks forward to the case studies that will emerge from the programme’s participants.

    Beyond sectoral outcomes, the initiative reinforces Sterling Bank’s commitment to support the development of human capital that positively shapes and impacts the wider economy. The Academy will run four cohorts within the year, commencing in 2026.

    With this partnership, Sterling Bank and the Enterprise Development Centre are  laying the foundation for a new generation of globally competitive Nigerian  exporters, professionals equipped not only with knowledge, but with the  certification, confidence, and networks needed to scale.

    As both institutions align their expertise to strengthen non-oil export capacity, this collaboration signals a bold step toward a more resilient, inclusive, and diversified economy.  The Non-Oil Export Academy therefore serves as a catalyst for national transformation, empowering businesses and communities to unlock Nigeria’s full potential on the world stage.

  • Sterling Bank recommits to food security

    Sterling Bank recommits to food security

    As the world commemorates World Food Day 2025, Sterling Bank Ltd has reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and food-secure Africa.

    This year’s World Food Day, themed “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” highlights the need for collective effort to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all, while promoting sustainable livelihoods and protecting the planet.

    Speaking on the occasion, Olushola Obikanye, Group Head, Agriculture at Sterling Bank, emphasized the urgency of partnership-driven solutions to transform Africa’s food systems.

    Obikanye said: “The 2025 World Food Day theme captures exactly what Africa needs right now: collaboration. No single institution or government can fix food insecurity alone. We must work hand in hand with financial institutions, technology providers, farmers, development partners, and other key stakeholders to create a future where hunger is history.

    “At Sterling Bank, we’ve seen what’s possible when partnerships align with purpose. Our commitment goes beyond financing as we are helping to build an ecosystem where farmers have access to credit, markets, and the knowledge they need to thrive.

     That is how we can produce better food, improve nutrition, and secure a better future for generations to come.

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    “Food security must move from being a national aspiration to a continental priority. We are sitting on 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet Africa still imports billions of dollars’ worth of food annually. This paradox can only change through action, investment, innovation, and inclusion.”

    Over the past decade, Sterling Bank has emerged as one of Nigeria’s foremost financiers of agricultural development, channeling funding and expertise into projects that strengthen food systems, enhance productivity, and empower communities.

    The Bank has disbursed over ₦500 billion in loans to commercial farmers and more than $300 million to support agricultural value chain actors across the country. In 2022, it launched SWAY AgFin, a digital platform that has since enabled over 25,500 youth and women farmers to access financing and market opportunities.

    Through partnerships with GIZ and USAID, Sterling Bank has implemented capacity-building programmes that have reached over 10,000 agribusinesses, enhancing competitiveness and sustainability, while also supporting over 100,000 rice, maize, and soybean farmers under the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and SWAY AgFin.

    Obikanye noted that these achievements are a product of Sterling Bank’s deliberate focus on long-term agricultural transformation.

    “Our strategy is built on three pillars: empowerment, innovation, and sustainability. We are empowering farmers through finance, innovating through technology, and promoting sustainability through climate-smart agriculture. The result is not just better yields, it’s better livelihoods and stronger communities.”

    Sterling Bank’s leadership in agricultural advocacy and investment will again take centre stage at the upcoming Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) 2025, scheduled for November 6–7, 2025, where thought leaders and innovators will convene under the theme “Survival of the Greenest: Reclaiming Africa’s Food Destiny.”

    The summit, convened annually by Sterling Bank, has become one of Africa’s foremost platforms for driving sustainable agricultural policy and investment. ASA 2025 will bring together policymakers, financiers, agribusiness leaders, and farmers to co-create practical solutions for achieving a resilient, food-secure continent.

    “World Food Day and ASA 2025 are connected by a single truth,” Obikanye concluded. “Africa’s food future will be secured only when we combine innovation, capital, and compassion to build systems that feed our people and protect our planet.”

    Through its H.E.A.R.T. strategy, focusing on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation, Sterling Bank continues to drive investments that promote sustainable development, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity across Africa

  • Sterling Bank reaffirms commitment to Africa’s food security 

    Sterling Bank reaffirms commitment to Africa’s food security 

    As the world commemorates World Food Day 2025, Sterling Bank Ltd, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions driving sustainable growth in the real economy, has reaffirmed commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and food-secure Africa.

    This year’s World Food Day with the theme: “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” highlights the need for collective effort to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all, while promoting sustainable livelihoods and protecting the planet.

    For Sterling Bank, the theme underscores a truth that has guided its work in agriculture: Africa’s food destiny depends on shared responsibility between farmers, financiers, policymakers, and communities.

    Group Head Sterling Bank Olushola Obikanye,  emphasised the urgency of partnership-driven solutions to transform Africa’s food systems.

    He said: “The 2025 World Food Day theme captures exactly what Africa needs right now: collaboration. No single institution or government can fix food insecurity alone. We must work hand in hand with financial institutions, technology providers, farmers, development partners, and other key stakeholders to create a future where hunger is history.

    “At Sterling Bank, we’ve seen what’s possible when partnerships align with purpose. Our commitment goes beyond financing as we are helping to build an ecosystem where farmers have access to credit, markets, and the knowledge they need to thrive. That is how we can produce better food, improve nutrition, and secure a better future for generations to come.

    “Food security must move from being a national aspiration to a continental priority. We are sitting on 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet Africa still imports billions of dollars’ worth of food annually. This paradox can only change through action, investment, innovation, and inclusion.”

    Over the past decade, Sterling Bank has emerged as one of Nigeria’s foremost financiers of agricultural development, channeling funding and expertise into projects that strengthen food systems, enhance productivity, and empower communities.

    The Bank has disbursed over ₦500 billion in loans to commercial farmers and more than $300 million to support agricultural value chain actors across the country. In 2022, it launched SWAY AgFin, a digital platform that has since enabled over 25,500 youth and women farmers to access financing and market opportunities.

    Through partnerships with GIZ and USAID, Sterling Bank has implemented capacity-building programmes that have reached over 10,000 agribusinesses, enhancing competitiveness and sustainability, while also supporting over 100,000 rice, maize, and soybean farmers under the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and SWAY AgFin.

    Obikanye noted that these achievements are a product of Sterling Bank’s deliberate focus on long-term agricultural transformation.

    Read Also: Sterling Bank explains ‘disruption’ by alleged debtor’s associates, commits to rule of law 

    “Our strategy is built on three pillars: empowerment, innovation, and sustainability. We are empowering farmers through finance, innovating through technology, and promoting sustainability through climate-smart agriculture. The result is not just better yields, it’s better livelihoods and stronger communities.”

    Sterling Bank’s leadership in agricultural advocacy and investment will again take centre stage at the upcoming Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) 2025, scheduled for November 6–7, 2025, where thought leaders and innovators will convene under the theme “Survival of the Greenest: Reclaiming Africa’s Food Destiny.”

    The summit, convened annually by Sterling Bank, has become one of Africa’s foremost platforms for driving sustainable agricultural policy and investment. ASA 2025 will bring together policymakers, financiers, agribusiness leaders, and farmers to co-create practical solutions for achieving a resilient, food-secure continent.

    “World Food Day and ASA 2025 are connected by a single truth,” Obikanye concluded. “Africa’s food future will be secured only when we combine innovation, capital, and compassion to build systems that feed our people and protect our planet.”

  • Sterling Bank explains ‘disruption’ by alleged debtor’s associates, commits to rule of law 

    Sterling Bank explains ‘disruption’ by alleged debtor’s associates, commits to rule of law 

    Sterling Bank Limited has reaffirmed dedication to operating within lawful processes. 

    It was reacting to efforts by a group of protesters to disrupt operations in one of its branches on Wednesday. 

    The bank alleged the protesters were sponsored by an alleged debtor at one of its branches in the Central Business District of Abuja, dismissing it as a blatant attempt to circumvent clear court judgments.

    The incident, which took place on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, involved a group claiming to be representatives of civil society organisations who obstructed access to the Sterling Bank branch. 

    The demonstrators chanted songs and distributed petitions on the commercial dispute. 

    The bank said the entire operation was a calculated attempt to employ misinformation and public intimidation to distort the facts of a legal matter that has been conclusively determined by the courts.

    The protest took place despite a Federal High Court order forbidding Miden Systems and  affiliates from taking any further steps or actions related to the dispute.

    Chief Security Officer at Sterling Bank, Michael Boniface , condemned the disruption. 

    He described the action as “reckless and contemptuous behaviour” and a “direct affront to the rule of law.” 

    Boniface confirmed that this latest violation will be immediately escalated to law enforcement authorities for thorough investigation and prosecution.

    Security agencies contained the disturbance and normal banking operations resumed almost immediately. 

    Sterling Bank said at no point were customers, staff or property subjected to risk or damage throughout the incident.

    The legal confrontation stems from years of defaults on a vessel lease facility reportedly granted to Miden Systems. 

    In 2021, the Federal High Court issued a Mareva injunction against Dr. Usoro and Miden Systems, which culminated in a consent judgment formally confirming the debtor’s liability. 

    In November 2024, the court dismissed a subsequent Miden Systems application to overturn it, classifying their attempt as an abuse of process.

    Boniface reiterated Sterling Bank’s commitment to operating within the bounds of the law.

     He stressed that integrity, discipline and respect for judicial authority remain the pillars of Sterling Bank, adding that the institution will continue to defend its reputation and protect its stakeholders from individuals who “weaponise falsehood to obstruct justice.”

    The bank reaffirmed dedication to transparency, ethical conduct and cooperation with law enforcement to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.

  • Sterling Bank scraps account maintenance fees as Independence Day gift

    Sterling Bank scraps account maintenance fees as Independence Day gift

    Sterling Bank has once more redefined the boundaries of customer-first banking in Nigeria by scrapping Account Maintenance Fees (AMF) across all personal accounts.

    Just months after abolishing transfer fees on local online transactions in April 2025, the bank has dismantled yet another long-standing industry practice, cementing its role as the nation’s leading force for transparent, fair, and customer-focused banking.

    This decision cuts at the heart of a revenue model that has long cost Nigerian customers dearly.

    In 2024 alone, tier-1 banks raked in over ₦650 billion from account maintenance and e-banking charges.

    Sterling’s move rewrites Nigeria’s banking rulebook while amplifying its bold stance: customers deserve freedom from too many deductions and the right to keep more of their hard-earned money.

    Read Also: Sterling Bank surpasses 2.0b transactions in one year of indigenous banking software

    Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman explained the principle driving this bold action.

    He said: “Every fee we remove is one less barrier between our customers and true financial freedom. This was the rationale behind eliminating transfer fees in April, and it is the same principle we uphold as we eliminate account maintenance fees.”

    Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive for Consumer and Business Banking at Sterling
    Bank, reinforced this position.

    “This initiative is about building lasting relationships that fuel sustainable growth. We put transparency and customer value first, and in doing so, we are building a foundation that serves both our customers and Sterling’s future.”

    As Nigeria marks another Independence Day, Sterling Bank presents this decision as a declaration of financial independence for millions of Nigerians.

    By freeing customers from deductions that silently erode their balances, Sterling is empowering them to keep and grow their wealth while redefining true financial freedom.

    With two unprecedented moves in quick succession, the removal of transfer fees in April and now the elimination of account maintenance charges, Sterling Bank continues to challenge the status quo and champion a new era of fairness in Nigerian banking.

  • Sterling Bank surpasses 2.0b transactions in one year of indigenous banking software

    Sterling Bank surpasses 2.0b transactions in one year of indigenous banking software

    Sterling Bank Limited has highlighted the immense success of its adoption of SeaBaas, a revolutionary core banking system designed and built in Africa. 

    Within a year of In just going live, SeaBaas has processed more than two billion transactions, reduced processing times by about 60 per cent, and drove 66 per cent surge in customer adoption.

    These achievements set new benchmarks for scale, efficiency, and reliability in financial technology.

    Since launch, the platform has powered Sterling’s digital ecosystem, OneBank,

    SterlingPro, Switch, Specta, and more, while enabling fintech integrations, agent

    banking networks, and third-party solutions. 

    With zero downtime across 365 days of service, SeaBaas has proven its resilience as one of the most dependable financial platforms on the continent.

    “SeaBaas, to us, represents a proof of possibility” said Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive, Sterling Bank. “It shows that Africa can build world-class technology, solve complex problems locally, and scale globally. This milestone is a collective victory for every Sterling colleague, our partners, and our customers who believed in the vision.”

    According to him, designed by Sterling Bank and developed in collaboration with Peerless Software, KPMG, Bazara Technologies, Revent Technologies, and AppQuest

    Solutions, alongside Sterling’s in-house engineering talent, SeaBaas has become a model of courage, ingenuity, and execution excellence in Nigeria. 

    Read Also: Sterling Bank names first beneficiaries of ₦2b ‘Beyond Education’ Fund

    He said, “Beyond technology, it has unlocked significant cost savings, freed resources for reinvestment, and accelerated financial inclusion across Nigeria’s economy.

    “Looking forward, Sterling intends to build on this momentum by expanding

    SeaBaas capabilities to tackle bold challenges, reimagine financial systems, and showcase the potential of African innovation on a global stage.

    “SeaBaas reminds us that when we dare to dream boldly and build courageously, there is no limit to what we can achieve in Africa. This is only the beginning”.

  • Sterling Bank names first beneficiaries of ₦2b ‘Beyond Education’ Fund

    Sterling Bank names first beneficiaries of ₦2b ‘Beyond Education’ Fund

    Sterling Bank has announced the first recipients of its ₦2 billion Beyond Education Scholarship, the nationwide initiative designed to fund university education for 600 exceptional young Nigerians and connect them to future careers in high-impact sectors.

    The announcement reflects a major step in the Bank’s commitment to long-term, inclusive national development through strategic investment in human capital.

     At its core, the Beyond Education program is built not just to provide scholarships, but to create real-world pathways to employment and socio-economic mobility.

    Launched in June 2025, Beyond Education is Sterling Bank’s most ambitious education-focused intervention to date. The scholarship fully covers undergraduate tuition at two forward-looking, accredited institutions, Miva Open University, Nigeria’s first licensed online private university, and Hillside University of Science & Technology (HUST), a STEM-centered campus in Ekiti State.

    Unlike conventional scholarship programs, Beyond Education is intentionally designed to support Nigeria’s critical development agenda. It aligns with Sterling’s HEART strategy, an investment framework focused on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.

     The goal is to build a talent pipeline for sectors that are vital to the country’s future.

    “This is more than a scholarship. It’s a national development strategy,” Growth Executive for Consumer and Business Banking Obinna Ukachukwu, at Sterling Bank said . 

    “We’re closing the gap between education and employability. Our mission is to prepare young people for the future of work in sectors that matter most to Nigeria’s progress.” 

    The first 30 scholars were selected through a transparent, community-driven voting process open to Sterling Bank account holders. All nominees were thoroughly vetted to ensure they met admission requirements at the partner universities. 

    The inaugural winners are:

    Abdulahi Afolabi, Damilare Tijani, Abdulwahab Eniafe, Abubakar Isah, Tahir Enesi Ibrahim, Julius Agbene Agbo, Chinedu Kelechi Patrick, Ayomide Ojo, Fyneseed Nwogu, Miracle Woyinmomoemi Daniel, Serene Clinton, Temiloluwa Orekunrin, Udeme Umoh, Victor Esogwa, Rosemary Kosipre, Ali Mohammed, Usman Isiaka Ololade, Kayode Aikulola, Saviour Philip, Ademola Afolabi, Emmanuel Enekwa, Bashir Sani Ibrahim, Ezekiel Adeseye, Deborah Umeaku, Abba Kaka Lawan, Haisam Sunusi Mahmuda, John Gumuan, Afan Ajiji, Bajepade Kehinde, and Chioma Igwe.

    Read Also: Sterling Bank empowers non-oil export  with capacity development

    While the scholarship covers full tuition, recipients are responsible for associated costs such as internet access, learning materials, and living expenses, a structure designed for sustainability and scale.

    To ensure effective rollout, nominations for the next round of candidates will pause until September 2025.

    However, voting remains open, and verified nominees are encouraged to continue engaging their communities as the next cohort will be selected in the coming weeks.

    With 570 scholarships still to be awarded, Sterling Bank remains committed to expanding access to quality education and helping shape a future-ready workforce for Nigeria.