Omega Power Ministries (OPM) has sponsored 40,000 Nigerian students through its university scholarship schemes over the past 15 years, marking one of the largest faith-based educational interventions in the country.
The scholarship programme is spearheaded by HRM King Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, Founder and General Overseer of OPM and King of Ikwuorie Ancient Kingdom. The initiative focuses on underprivileged Nigerians who lack the financial resources to pursue tertiary education.
In a country where poverty, insecurity and economic instability continue to push many young people out of school, the programme has created access to both local and international university education for thousands of beneficiaries. According to available figures, OPM awards scholarships to no fewer than 5,000 students every year. Sustained consistently for 15 years, the scheme has recorded more than 40,000 beneficiaries across its local and overseas scholarship platforms.
The scholarships cover a wide range of degree programmes in Nigerian universities and foreign institutions. Over 30,000 beneficiaries have already graduated from universities in Nigeria and abroad, while thousands more are currently enrolled in different institutions.
At a recent matriculation ceremony at the University of Port Harcourt, OPM scholarship recipients were among newly admitted students starting their academic journeys. Similar admissions have also been recorded in other universities and colleges of nursing sciences across the country.
Graduates of the scheme include medical doctors, nurses, engineers, pharmacists, computer scientists, accountants, administrators, journalists and economists. These professionals are now positioned to contribute to critical sectors of the economy, including healthcare, infrastructure, finance, technology and public administration.
Many beneficiaries come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some are from families that could not afford tertiary education, while others lost their parents at a young age. There are also students who grew up in communities where access to basic education was limited. For many of them, the scholarship programme provided an opportunity that would otherwise have remained out of reach.
The initiative is funded mainly through church tithes and offerings, without direct government funding or support from international organisations. Despite prevailing economic challenges, OPM has reportedly invested billions of naira over the years to sustain the scholarship scheme.
Beyond university education, OPM’s educational interventions also extend to primary and secondary levels. The ministry has established 42 free schools across Nigeria, alongside a free girls’ technical college and a specialised free school for children with special needs, including those with autism and Down syndrome.
The free schools provide tuition-free education, reducing financial pressure on families and helping to address school dropout rates. The girls’ technical college equips young women with vocational skills, while the special needs school offers inclusive education for children who might otherwise be marginalised.
With more than 40,000 students already supported and thousands of graduates contributing to national development, the OPM scholarship scheme continues to represent a sustained investment in human capital across Nigeria.
