The Alternative Bank has unveiled a bold ethical financing framework aimed at transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape by prioritising farmers over financiers and placing purpose at the core of agricultural investments.
Speaking at the Agriculture Summit Africa 2025, themed “Survival of the Greenest: Reclaiming Africa’s Food Destiny,” the bank’s Executive Director (North), Garba Mohammed, said the initiative sets a new benchmark for purpose-driven finance on the continent.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Azeez Badru, Mohammed said Africa’s prosperity depends not only on how food is cultivated and processed, but on how it is financed.
“This theme signals a continental awakening. Africa’s food destiny will not be reclaimed by technology alone, but by the courage to finance differently, to make money, serve humanity rather than the other way around,” he said.
Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s deepening food security challenges, Mohammed said the bank is spearheading a movement toward ethical, transparent, and equitable financing that prioritises productivity over speculation.
He described agriculture as “a sacred trust” and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to funding ventures that create value and build resilience across communities.
“We are financing purpose, not just profit,” he stated. “Every loan, every partnership must feed families, preserve the land, and strengthen livelihoods. That is the essence of ethical finance.”
The Alternative Bank’s model draws from time-tested non-interest financing instruments such as Mudarabah (profit-and-loss sharing), Musharakah (equity partnership), Ijara (lease-to-own), and Murabaha (cost-plus trade finance). These tools, Mohammed explained, are designed to redistribute risk and reward fairly across the agricultural value chain—empowering producers, processors, and distributors alike.
He observed that for too long, those who feed Africa have carried the greatest burden while financiers reaped the highest returns. “That imbalance must end,” he said, adding that “the Alternative Bank intends to lead the way.”
Beyond capital, the bank’s financing also supports renewable energy systems for irrigation, solar-powered cold storage, and waste-to-value innovations that reduce environmental impact while improving productivity and income.
“The survival of the greenest challenges us to build systems that reward stewardship over speculation, and to finance not just growth, but good,” Mohammed said.
Commending the organisers of the summit, the bank reaffirmed its resolve to reshape Africa’s food systems through finance that empowers rather than exploits.
It also called on investors, institutions, and innovators to join in building a future where farmers stand at the centre of transformation—anchored on dignity, equity, and sustainability.
“We’re leading this charge,” Mohammed concluded, “and we welcome farmers, off-takers, and partners who believe finance should build a fair and resilient food system.”
