OPay, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, has added Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) to its growing list of beneficiaries under its N1.2 billion scholarship programme.
The move marks a pivotal moment in the fintech company’s ongoing efforts to ease the financial burden of tertiary education for deserving students across the country.
The partnership, sealed at a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony, positions OOU as the ninth university to join OPay’s 10-year scholarship initiative, which is targeted at empowering students from low-income backgrounds. Under the scheme, 20 students of the institution will each receive N300,000 annually to cover tuition and academic-related expenses, an intervention that will run uninterrupted for the next decade.
The chief public affairs officer at OPay, Justin Zhang, at the MoU, emphasized the organisation’s dedication to building a stronger Nigeria through strategic investments in education.
“Olabisi Onabanjo University is the ninth university we have partnered with this year to give scholarships to 20 students of the institution every year. We believe this initiative will allow talented students to focus on their education. Thank you for the warm welcome,” Zhang noted.
Zhang underscored that the scholarship scheme is part of OPay’s broader vision to unlock the potential of Nigerian youth by eliminating financial barriers to higher education. “At OPay, we believe that access to education is key to transforming lives and communities. This initiative is our way of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s future,” he added.
Receiving the scholarship programme on behalf of the university, the vice chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor Ayodeji Agboola, lauded OPay’s gesture, describing it as timely and transformational.
“We have had several students take gap years in order to come up with funds to continue their education. With this scholarship initiative, some will be able to continue their education without any hassle. OPay’s investment in this institution is not misplaced, as Olabisi Onabanjo University has produced several notable and influential persons across various industries in Nigeria. Thank you, OPay,” Agboola added.
The OOU partnership signals yet another step in OPay’s strategic rollout of its N1.2 billion educational support fund, which is already active in eight other universities across Nigeria. The initiative prioritizes students with academic promise but limited financial means, aiming to remove tuition-related stress and allow beneficiaries to concentrate fully on their studies and personal development.
For many students at OOU, the announcement was met with gratitude and renewed hope. With the rising cost of education in Nigeria, the scholarship comes as a relief for families who struggle to keep their wards in school.
By extending its scholarship scheme to more institutions, OPay continues to affirm its corporate social responsibility ethos and commitment to national development. The initiative aligns with the company’s broader vision of not just providing financial services, but also actively participating in human capital development through long-term impact investments.
As the scholarship programme gains traction nationwide, students from diverse regions and backgrounds are now in line to benefit from what has been described as one of the most consistent and far-reaching scholarship schemes driven by a private fintech player in Nigeria.
With more universities expected to sign on in the coming months, OPay’s educational investment is rapidly becoming a beacon of hope in Nigeria’s higher education space.
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