Nigerian Fintech OPay Selects Top 48 Teams for National Innovation Challenge

OPay has selected the top 48 teams to advance to the next stage of its National Innovation Challenge after receiving more than 2,200 applications from over 11,000 undergraduate students across Nigeria.

The competition forms part of the expanded OPay Scholars Programme, which also includes the company’s N1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship programme and OPay Futures, a career development initiative. Together, the programmes aim to support education, digital skills development, innovation and youth employment in Nigeria.

Applications for the National Innovation Challenge opened on 25 May and closed on 3 July. Students were invited to develop technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges, with participating teams competing for a share of an N18 million prize pool, industry mentorship and opportunities to further develop their ideas.

Following an evaluation of the submissions, OPay selected 48 teams to move forward. The group includes 24 teams from OPay partner institutions and 24 from non-partner tertiary institutions, with each team comprising five students from the same institution.

Mentorship and Internship Opportunities

The selected teams will now take part in a six-week virtual learning and mentorship programme delivered in collaboration with OPay, Google and the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme. Through webinars and mentoring sessions, participants will refine their ideas, strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and prepare for the next stage of the competition. At the end of the programme, the field will be narrowed to 10 finalist teams.

The National Innovation Challenge also provides a pathway into the OPay Futures programme. Students from the 48 selected teams who achieve at least 70% in the webinar assessment will qualify for a three-month internship with OPay or one of its partner organisations. The internships are designed to provide practical workplace experience and expose students to technology and business projects within Nigeria’s digital economy.

Building Nigeria’s Next Generation of Innovators

“The response to the National Innovation Challenge has been truly inspiring,” said Itoro Udo, CSR Manager at OPay.

“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. 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.”

Through the expanded OPay Scholars Programme, the company says it is building a long-term pipeline that supports students through financial assistance, innovation programmes and career development opportunities. By combining scholarships, mentoring, practical industry experience and internship opportunities, OPay aims to help prepare the next generation of technology professionals and innovators for Nigeria’s growing digital economy.