OPay, one of Africa’s leading fintech companies, has awarded scholarships to 20 indigent students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, with each beneficiary set to receive an annual grant of ₦300,000 throughout their academic programme.
The initiative, positioned under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, is designed to ease financial barriers to higher education while also promoting youth development and innovation. The scholarship was facilitated by the member representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Nkemkanma Kama, who attracted the programme to support students from his constituency studying at AE-FUNAI.
The formalisation of the scheme was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between OPay and the university, establishing a long-term commitment that will run for ten years. Speaking at the event, OPay’s CSR Manager, Itoro Udo, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital, noting that the programme goes beyond financial aid.
“We are here to formally partner with AE-FUNAI to bring the OPay scholarship directly to the institution, and this is not just a document we are signing today,” Udo said. “We are deeply concerned about the lives of our youths and how technology is transforming the world.”
He explained that while the scholarship initially focused on providing ₦300,000 yearly grants when it launched in 2024, the programme has since evolved to incorporate an innovation component aimed at equipping students with practical, technology-driven skills.
“When this OPay scholarship started in 2024, it was just about giving students ₦300,000 each, but for something to be good, you should add something to make it better,” he said. “Now, students will also benefit from an innovation challenge where they can compete with their peers across institutions like UNN, UNICAL, UNIUYO, ABU and UNIMAID.”
According to Udo, the company has partnered with global technology firms to support this expansion, providing students with exposure and resources to develop solutions capable of competing at both national and international levels.
Kama, in his remarks, said the scholarship reflects a deliberate effort to improve access to quality education for students within his constituency, particularly those facing financial hardship. He noted that the yearly grant would help ensure continuity in their academic pursuits.
“We came to sign an MoU between AE-FUNAI and OPay for a ten-year scholarship for 20 students from Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency,” Kama said. “Each student will receive ₦300,000 every year, and the programme will be sustained annually.”
The Vice Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Daniel Nwachukwu, commended both OPay and the lawmaker for the intervention, describing it as timely and aligned with the university’s support structure for indigent students. He also assured stakeholders of the institution’s readiness to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
