Fintech company OPay has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its flagship scholarship initiative, now rebranded as OPay Scholars, while expanding the programme to include an Innovation Challenge developed in partnership with Google and OPay Futures.

The expansion forms part of the company's ₦1.2 billion, 10 year commitment to supporting education across Nigeria. Applications for the Innovation Challenge run from 25th May to 14th June, 2026, and are open to teams of five undergraduate students from any tertiary institution in Nigeria. Teams are required to identify a real life problem and present a technology driven solution, with applicants also expected to have downloaded the Gemini App and initiated basic prompts within it.

The grand prize winner will receive ₦10 million, the first runner up ₦5 million, and the second runner up ₦3 million. Beyond financial rewards, participants will gain access to structured webinars and bootcamps focused on practical skills and industry knowledge. Top performers will also be considered for career opportunities through OPay Futures with OPay and its partners.

Elizabeth Wang, Chief Commercial Officer at OPay, stated that the 2026 expansion moves the programme beyond financial support. "With the expansion of the programme in 2026 to include the Innovation Challenge and OPay Futures, we are going beyond financial support to equip students with practical skills, innovation opportunities, and career pathways that will help them thrive in the digital economy and create meaningful impact in their communities," she noted.

Dotun Adekunle, Chief Operations and Technology Officer at OPay, said the Google partnership strengthens the programme's impact. "By integrating Google Gemini into the challenge, we are empowering young Nigerians to build relevant digital skills, solve real problems, and prepare for the future of innovation and work," he added.

Olumide Balogun, Director for West and East Africa at Google, said embedding Gemini into the challenge gives students a practical tool to develop and scale their ideas. "The most exciting innovations in Africa will come from young people solving local problems, and our role is to make sure they have the right technology to make that happen," he affirmed.

Students can apply via https://www.opayweb.com/innovation-challenge.