One of the biggest Fintech company in Nigeria, OPay has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 edition of its scholarship initiative, now renamed OPay Scholars, introducing a new Innovation Challenge as part of its broader education and youth development drive.
The initiative expands OPay’s existing ₦1.2 billion, 10-year education commitment, moving beyond financial scholarships to include innovation support, digital skills development, and career opportunities for students across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
As part of the newly introduced challenge, OPay is partnering with Google and OPay Futures to encourage students to build practical technology solutions for real-world problems.
Applications for the Innovation Challenge opened on May 25, 2026, and will close on June 14, 2026.
Eligible applicants must apply in teams of five undergraduate students from accredited tertiary institutions in Nigeria through the official application portal.
According to OPay, participating teams will be required to identify existing problems within society and create technology-based solutions to address them. Applicants are also expected to download the Gemini app and complete basic interactions using the platform as part of the challenge process.
The competition offers substantial rewards for outstanding teams:
- Winner — ₦10 million
- First runner-up — ₦5 million
- Second runner-up — ₦3 million
Beyond cash rewards, selected participants will gain access to webinars, mentorship sessions, and bootcamps designed to expose them to practical industry experience, innovation processes, and workplace skills.
OPay also said high-performing participants could gain access to OPay Futures, a platform aimed at connecting students with career and employment opportunities within OPay and partner organisations.
Speaking on the programme expansion, OPay Chief Commercial Officer, Elizabeth Wang, said the company remains committed to investing in the future of young Nigerians through education and empowerment initiatives.
She noted that the company is expanding beyond scholarship funding to create opportunities that equip students with practical skills and pathways for success in the digital economy.
Also commenting, OPay Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Dotun Adekunle, said the collaboration with Google would provide students with access to tools capable of transforming ideas into practical innovations.
Meanwhile, Google’s Director for West and East Africa, Olumide Balogun, said Africa’s future innovations are likely to emerge from young people solving challenges within their communities using modern technology.
Since launching its scholarship programme, OPay said it has supported hundreds of students across Nigeria, with the introduction of the Innovation Challenge representing a broader effort to combine education support with innovation and talent development.
Founded in 2018, OPay has become one of Nigeria’s leading fintech platforms, offering services such as money transfers, airtime and data purchases, bill payments, merchant services, and card solutions.
Interested students can submit applications through the official portal: OPay Innovation Challenge Application Portal.
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