By Monsurat Abisoye
OPay has extended the application deadline for its National Innovation Challenge, a key component of the expanded OPay Scholars Programme 2026, from 14 June to 3 July 2026, following strong student interest and requests for additional time to submit entries.
The fintech company said students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria can still apply in teams of five through the programme’s application portal.
The National Innovation Challenge forms part of the broader OPay Scholars Programme, an education and talent development initiative built on OPay’s ₦1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship commitment to Nigerian tertiary institutions. The programme comprises three pillars: the scholarship scheme, the National Innovation Challenge, and OPay Futures, a career and employability development platform.
In a further expansion of the initiative, OPay has entered a strategic partnership with the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
According to the company, the collaboration is aimed at strengthening skills development, innovation, mentorship, and employability opportunities for young Nigerians, while supporting broader efforts to create jobs and expand participation in the digital economy.
Under the partnership, 3MTT will work alongside Google to deliver training during the webinar and bootcamp stages of the National Innovation Challenge and help promote the programme through its nationwide network of fellows and communities.
OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Itoro Udo, said the company remains committed to investing in education, innovation, and long-term economic opportunities for young Nigerians. He noted that the overwhelming response to the challenge informed the decision to extend the deadline, allowing more students to benefit from the programme’s training, mentorship, and development opportunities.
Also commenting on the partnership, 3MTT Programme Director, Francis Sani, said the collaboration combines public and private sector strengths to equip young Nigerians with future-ready digital skills, expose them to practical innovation challenges, and improve access to employment opportunities.
OPay said the expanded Scholars Programme brings together its ₦1.2 billion scholarship initiative, the National Innovation Challenge, OPay Futures, Google, and 3MTT to create a comprehensive platform that equips students with the skills, experience, and opportunities needed to succeed in Nigeria and compete globally.
The company encouraged interested students to take advantage of the deadline extension and submit their applications before 3 July 2026.
