Fintech company OPay has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its flagship scholarship programme, now rebranded as OPay Scholars, as the company expands its ₦1.2 billion, 10-year education commitment with a new Innovation Challenge in partnership with Google and OPay Futures.
The initiative marks a major expansion of the programme beyond traditional scholarship support, with OPay introducing innovation development, technical skills training and career opportunities for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Applications for the Innovation Challenge opened on May 25 and will close on June 14, 2026. Interested students are required to apply in teams of five undergraduate students from any recognised tertiary institution in Nigeria through the official application portal.
According to OPay, participating teams will be expected to identify real-life problems and develop technology-driven solutions capable of addressing them. As part of the challenge requirements, applicants must also download the Gemini App and engage with basic prompts using the platform.
The competition comes with significant financial rewards. The overall winning team will receive ₦10 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive ₦5 million and ₦3 million respectively.
Beyond the cash prizes, participants will also have access to webinars and bootcamp sessions designed to expose them to practical industry knowledge, innovation processes and employability skills. OPay said top participants from the programme would gain access to OPay Futures, which could provide career opportunities within OPay and its partner network.
Speaking on the expanded initiative, Chief Commercial Officer at OPay, Elizabeth Wang, said the company remains committed to supporting the future of young Nigerians through education and digital empowerment.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools for change. Through our ₦1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship commitment, OPay has continued to invest in the education and future of young Nigerians,” Wang said.
“With the expansion of the programme in 2026 to include the Innovation Challenge and OPay Futures, we are going beyond financial support to equip students with practical skills, innovation opportunities, and career pathways that will help them thrive in the digital economy and create meaningful impact in their communities.”
Chief Operations and Technology Officer at OPay, Dotun Adekunle, said the partnership with Google would help students access tools and technologies needed to transform ideas into practical solutions.
“Our partnership with Google on the Innovation Challenge strengthens the impact of the OPay Scholars Programme by giving students access to technology and tools that can help turn ideas into practical solutions,” Adekunle said.
“By integrating Google Gemini into the challenge, we are empowering young Nigerians to build relevant digital skills, solve real problems, and prepare for the future of innovation and work.”
Google also described the partnership as an opportunity to support young Nigerians building solutions for local challenges using artificial intelligence tools.
Olumide Balogun, Director for West and East Africa at Google, said the continent’s next wave of innovation would likely come from young Africans solving problems within their communities.
“The most exciting innovations in Africa will come from young people solving local problems, and our role is to make sure they have the right technology to make that happen,” Balogun said.
“By embedding Gemini into the OPay Innovation Challenge, we are giving Nigeria’s sharpest students a powerful and practical tool to test, refine, and scale their ideas.”
Since launching its scholarship initiative, OPay said the programme has continued to expand in scale and impact, supporting hundreds of students across Nigeria. The company noted that the introduction of the Innovation Challenge and OPay Futures reflects its broader commitment to education, innovation and youth empowerment in the country.
Founded in 2018, OPay has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading fintech platforms, offering services including money transfers, airtime and data purchases, bill payments, merchant payments and card services. The company is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
Students interested in participating in the Innovation Challenge can apply through the official portal at https://www.opayweb.com/innovation-challenge, while additional information is available on OPay’s website and official social media platforms.
