OPay selects 48 Nigerian student teams for Innovation Challenge

Fintech company OPay announced that 48 university teams have been chosen to advance to the next phase of its National Innovation Challenge. The selection follows more than 2,200 team applications submitted by over 11,000 undergraduate students from across Nigeria. The challenge is a flagship component of the OPay Scholars Programme, which also includes a N1.2 billion, ten‑year scholarship initiative and the OPay Futures pathway.

The 48 teams – split evenly between partner and non‑partner tertiary institutions – will enter a six‑week virtual learning and mentorship programme. Participants will receive guidance from OPay staff, Google experts, and the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme through a series of webinars designed to sharpen their technology‑driven solutions. At the end of the mentorship, the field will be narrowed to ten teams, and those scoring 70% or higher in the assessments may qualify for a three‑month placement with OPay Futures. The competition offers a share of the N18 million prize pool and aims to nurture digital skills, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment in Nigeria.