OPay Partners UNIZIK, Unveils 10-Year Scholarship Programme for Students

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has entered into a partnership with OPay to provide scholarship and career development opportunities for its students, with 20 indigent students expected to receive ₦300,000 annually for 10 years under the programme.

The partnership was formalised during a courtesy visit by an OPay delegation to the university, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Speaking during the visit, OPay’s Head of Partnership (Director), Mr I. K. Odiase, said the organisation was committed to supporting students through its scholarship initiative.

He explained that the ₦60 million programme would provide ₦300,000 annually to 20 indigent students in each participating institution over 10 years. The initiative is designed to ease students’ financial burdens, including educational expenses, and enable them to concentrate on their studies.

According to Odiase, OPay expanded the programme following positive feedback from beneficiaries of its first phase, with UNIZIK selected to participate in the second phase. He attributed the initiative to the organisation’s corporate social responsibility commitment and its belief in education and the potential of young Nigerians.

He added that the partnership could lead to broader collaboration between OPay and the university, noting that the organisation had supported similar initiatives in other institutions.

OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mr Itoro Udo, said the organisation was extending its support beyond scholarships to influence students’ career development and professional opportunities.

Udo disclosed that OPay’s Innovation Challenge, which began with approximately 48 universities, had been narrowed down to 10 teams. A team from UNIZIK has qualified for the boot camp, while the top four teams will advance to the grand finale to pitch locally developed, technology-driven ideas across different sectors.

He identified Google, 3MTT, Visa and VERVE as partners expected to participate in the initiative.

Udo also revealed that OPay was developing a talent pipeline through its partnership with 3MTT, creating opportunities for outstanding students to gain internship and job-placement experience in the fintech and corporate sectors before graduation.

He noted that UNIZIK was the 26th tertiary institution to partner with OPay under the initiative. The organisation, he added, was targeting 41 institutions by the end of the year and planned to continue expanding its reach.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Professor Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie, expressed appreciation to OPay and welcomed the partnership.

He described UNIZIK as a pioneer in education, highlighting its large student population and technology-driven initiatives, including its technology pilot fund. He said the university was interested in working with partners capable of supporting technological development and practical innovation.

Professor Anyaehie expressed the university’s willingness to deepen its relationship with OPay beyond scholarships, particularly in technology, innovation and accessibility.

He specifically proposed installing a lift in one of the university’s buildings as a possible area of collaboration. According to him, the intervention would improve mobility and make the facility more accessible, particularly for persons with disabilities.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasised the university’s commitment to supporting students with disabilities, adding that technology-driven interventions capable of improving the lives of members of the university community would be highly valuable.

He assured the delegation of the university’s readiness to work closely with OPay and expressed optimism that the partnership would open doors to further collaboration.

The visit concluded with the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between UNIZIK and OPay, marking the commencement of the partnership.

Those present at the event included OPay Contact Manager, Mr Aniebiet Akpan-Abasi; the organisation’s Link Person, Mr Victor Gozie Chukwunenye; UNIZIK Registrar, Dr Chineye Gloria Okeke; Chief Legal Officer, Dr Reginald Uzoechi; Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Kingsley Ubaoji; Director of Academic Planning, Professor Angela Ufele; Director of the Alex Ekwueme Institute, Professor Jeremiah L. Chukwuneke; and Director of Information and Public Relations, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attach.

Others in attendance were the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Virginia Ebere Ejiofor; Ekene Ezeumeanya; and the UNIZIK Students’ Union Government President, Comrade Nnake Winston.