OPay awards N6 million to Benue State University as part of N1.2bn 10-year scholarship

Leading Fintech company OPay Digital Service Limited has extended its N1.2 billion 10-year Scholarship Scheme to students of Benue State University. The development makes the North Central institution the seventh beneficiary of the program, slated to support the higher education drive in Nigeria.

According to the company, the sum of N6 million has been disbursed to the institution in support of students’ educational pursuits. The initiative is in line with its commitment to education and youth empowerment.

The Benue State University Vice Chancellor, Admin, Prof Tor Joe Iorapuu, expressed that the donation will have a lasting impact on students by financially empowering them to pursue their academic goals with confidence and stability.

“This generous donation from OPay marks a significant milestone. It provides a crucial safety net, ensuring that students can focus on their education,” he added.

The scholarship program further buttresses OPay’s commitment to alleviating financial burdens for students by strengthening them to focus on their career pursuits and personal development. OPay said the initiative is more than financial aid; it is a long-term strategy to cultivate talent and empower the next generation of innovators and leaders in Nigeria. By reaching Benue State University, OPay continues its strategic plan to invest in future leaders.

While speaking on the initiative, OPay’s MD/CEO, Mr Dauda Gotring, stressed the importance of education to national advancement and reiterated the company’s dedication to actualising the goals and fostering opportunities for students across the nation. 

“We are proud to support these future leaders at Benue State University as part of our broader commitment to education and empowerment,” he said.

He added that the beneficiaries of the scholarship are not just students, but indirectly, it represents the hopes of their families and communities, and the company is playing a pivotal role in ensuring their dreams materialise.

Also Read: OPay extends N1.2 billion scholarship to Kwara State Polytechnic.

Founded in 2018, OPay has grown into a major player in Nigeria’s digital economy, offering services such as mobile money transfers, bill payments, and merchant solutions. Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, the company focuses on expanding financial inclusion, particularly among underserved populations.

Other beneficiaries in Opay’s scholarship scheme

While Benue State University is the seventh beneficiary, OPay continues to reassure Nigerians that its vision extends to other tertiary institutions nationwide.

The scholarship scheme, launched in 2023, intends to support 400 students every year for the next ten years, reaching university and polytechnic students across Nigeria. The program reflects OPay’s belief that education remains a powerful tool for driving progress and inclusivity.

This milestone follows the successful implementation of the scholarship programme in six other institutions this year, some are:

• In March, OPay provided N6 million to 20 undergraduate students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), with each recipient receiving ₦300,000 per session.
• Also in March, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, became the third beneficiary of the scheme in Nigeria.

• In April, 20 students from Kwara State Polytechnic each received scholarships worth N300,000, making the Ilorin-based institution the first polytechnic to benefit from the program.
• In May, the scholarship was extended to the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA).

During the extension at the University of Ibadan in November, the company said the scholarship initiative would be extended, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and 17 other institutions nationwide, as it would sponsor 400 students across the campuses, investing N120m annually.

“Over the next 10 years, this long-term commitment aims to contribute more than N1.2bn to significantly amplify OPay’s positive social impact across Nigeria’s academic landscape,” it said.

Around the same period, the company disbursed N12 million scholarships to 40 indigent students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with each student receiving N300,000.

As the programme expands, students from various regions of Nigeria can look forward to benefiting from this life-changing initiative, reaffirming OPay’s dedication to unlocking several potentials and creating a brighter future for Nigeria’s youth.