OPay Celebrates 10th Anniversary with ₦1.2 Billion “Empowering Futures” Scholarship - 20 UNIJOS Students Among Beneficiaries.

Leading financial technology company OPay has marked its 10th anniversary with the official launch of the ₦1.2 billion “Empowering Futures” Scholarship Programme, a flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative designed to support higher education and empower young Nigerians. Among the inaugural beneficiaries were 20 students from the University of Jos, drawn from various faculties, with most selected on merit and others chosen based on special consideration and physical challenges.

The three-day celebration, held in Lagos from October 30 to November 1, 2025, brought together representatives from 20 Nigerian universities, including Vice-Chancellors, senior administrators, and student awardees. Each institution was represented by six delegates, three student recipients and three management representatives, underscoring OPay’s commitment to strengthening academic-industry collaboration across Nigeria.

The event opened with a lively welcome by renowned host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, who introduced distinguished guests including Vice-Chancellors from partner universities and entertainment icons Funke Akindele, Hauwa Lawal, and Nancy Isime. In his address, Ebuka unveiled the OPay 10-Year Scholarship Plan, committing ₦1.2 billion to fund 20 students from each of the 20 partner institutions, a landmark investment in Nigeria’s education sector.

Reaffirming the company’s long-term dedication to education, innovation, and youth empowerment, OPay representatives noted that the initiative aims to remove financial barriers to tertiary education and nurture a new generation of leaders poised to drive national development.

During the event, scholarship recipients shared moving testimonies about the transformative impact of the award. Many spoke of overcoming financial hardship and expressed heartfelt gratitude to OPay for helping them pursue their academic dreams. The students pledged to uphold OPay’s values and contribute meaningfully to their communities and future careers.

A major highlight of the anniversary was the formal signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between OPay and participating universities, solidifying their long-term partnership. University representatives commended OPay’s visionary investment in education and called for continued collaboration.

Professor Rahila Plangnan Gowon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, praised the initiative and urged OPay to expand its impact by creating employment opportunities for the beneficiaries as they graduate. The University of Calabar also received special recognition for establishing a Cyber Laboratory in partnership with OPay, reflecting the company’s broader commitment to technological capacity building in Nigerian higher institutions.

Signed

Tongdyen D.S. Dachung

Principal Assistant Registrar

For: Head, Information and Publications