Sterling Bank has deepened its commitment to youth empowerment by expanding its Beyond Education initiative, announcing that beneficiaries of its ₦2 billion scholarship programme will also receive paid internships and guaranteed job placements for select candidates.

This new addition underscores the bank’s growing investment in education that leads to employment. The Beyond Education programme, unveiled on Democracy Day, aims to transform the academic experience of 600 young Nigerians across the country. Now, the initiative goes a step further, building a structured transition from university lecture halls to the workplace.

Interns will not only receive competitive stipends but will also undergo hands-on training in core business areas such as banking operations, technology, customer experience, and risk management. The programme promises direct mentorship from senior executives at Sterling, ensuring beneficiaries gain the exposure and support needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

Sterling Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, described the move as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s human capital.

“Nigeria’s greatest asset is its people,” Suleiman said. “Our responsibility is to equip them to lead, innovate, and transform. With this initiative, we have created a launchpad for the next generation of builders and problem solvers. This is the work that moves a nation forward. This is the path we have deliberately chosen as an institution.”

The scholarship fund will be awarded through an open, community-led nomination process covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The first batch of award letters is expected to go out before the end of June, with scholars beginning their studies in September.

The programme is part of Sterling Bank’s broader HEART strategy—an acronym reflecting its core focus areas: Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. Since adopting the HEART model, the bank’s interventions have touched the lives of over 30 million Nigerians. These include rural health tech booths, solar-powered farming tools, school digitisation efforts, and support for electric mobility infrastructure.

Beyond philanthropic efforts, Sterling continues to redefine customer-centred banking. In April, it became the first commercial bank in Nigeria to scrap transfer fees for individual account holders, saving customers over ₦600 million in just three months. Its AlwaysOn facility, launched earlier this year, offers eligible customers instant access to a ₦1 million cash advance without collateral, further demonstrating its commitment to ease and inclusion.

Now, the bank is inviting like-minded organisations to partner on the Beyond Education journey by offering mentorship, internships, and job placements to its scholarship beneficiaries.

As Sterling Bank continues to reimagine what a financial institution can achieve, its Beyond Education initiative is fast becoming a blueprint for how corporate Nigeria can lead with purpose and deliver impact at scale.