Fintech company OPay has announced the 48 student teams that will advance to the next phase of the OPay National Innovation Challenge, following what it described as an overwhelming response from students nationwide.
The challenge is one of three flagship initiatives under the newly expanded OPay Scholars Programme, sitting alongside the N1.2bn, 10-year scholarship scheme and OPay Futures. The company said the programme underlines its long-term commitment to education, innovation, digital skills and youth empowerment across Nigeria.
Applications opened on 25 May and closed on 3 July, drawing more than 2,200 team entries from over 11,000 undergraduates across tertiary institutions competing for a share of an N18m prize pool, career mentorship from industry leaders and learning opportunities aimed at building practical, technology-driven solutions.
After a rigorous first-round assessment weighing the originality, quality, relevance and potential impact of each submission, 48 teams were chosen to progress. Half of them, 24, came from OPay’s partner institutions and the other 24 from non-partner institutions, with each team made up of five students from the same school.
The shortlisted teams will now take part in a six-week virtual learning and mentorship programme featuring webinar sessions with professionals and experts from OPay, Google and the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme. At the close of the sessions, the field of 48 will be trimmed to 10 for the next stage.
The programme also opens a route into employment through OPay Futures, another pillar of the scheme. Students from the 48 teams who score 70 per cent or higher in the webinar assessment will qualify for a three-month internship with OPay and partner organisations, gaining hands-on industry experience and exposure to real business challenges.
“The response to the National Innovation Challenge has been truly inspiring. Seeing over 11,000 students come together to develop practical solutions to real challenges reinforces our belief that Nigeria has an incredible pool of young talent ready to shape the future through innovation,” said Itoro Udo, CSR Manager at OPay.
She added: “Through the OPay Scholars Programme, we are investing beyond scholarships by creating opportunities for learning, mentorship, collaboration and innovation. Together with our partners, Google and the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme, we are committed to helping young Nigerians develop the skills, confidence and exposure they need to build solutions that can create meaningful impact for society.”
OPay said the expanded programme was designed to support students at every stage, from financial aid through the scholarship, to innovation through the challenge, and career readiness through OPay Futures, in a bid to nurture a new generation of innovators and technology professionals for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Source: Punch.
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