OPay Innovation Challenge 2026

The Innovation Challenge is an expanded, holistic initiative that builds on OPay's flagship #1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship commitment. By combining financial aid with an innovation challenge, professional skill-building, mentorship, and job placement opportunities, it provides talented Nigerian undergraduates with an enabling platform to become the next generation of African technovators and drivers of digital transformation.

Objectives

1. Build digital and problem-solving skills in Nigeria's next generation of innovators.
2. Drive technology solutions for real social impact — from healthcare to agriculture to finance.
3. Connect top talent with mentorship, funding, and career opportunities in Africa's tech ecosystem.

• Table of Content
• About Opay
• OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship

1st Place

OPay National Innovator of the Year

• #10,000,000 project grant + #300,000 Scholarship Award
• Certificate + national media feature
• Mentorship with industry experts
• Advisory support for prototype development
• Job opportunity

2nd Place

• #5,000,000 project grant + #300,000 Scholarship Award
• Certificate + national media feature
• Advisory support for prototype development
• OPay Innovation Fellowship

3rd Place

• #3,000,000 project grant + #300,000 Scholarship Award
• Certificate of participation + national media feature
• OPay Innovation Fellowship

Requirements for OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship Qualification

• Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in AI-assisted design (canva-gemini workflow)
• Must be an undergraduate student offering any course of study in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution.
• Must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) score of 2.8/4 for Colleges/Polytechnics, or 3.5/5 (second-class upper credit) for Universities.
• Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate significant financial hardship.

Interview date, Process and Venue for OPay Innovation Challenge Undergraduate Scholarship

Programme Stages & 2026 Timeline

• May - June: Applications & Screening - Over 100,000 applications are projected to be received. 48 teams of 240 students to be shortlisted and announced by June.
• Jun – Aug: Webinars & Exam - 6-week virtual webinar series + timed exam (30 Qs, 30 mins). Top 10 teams advance to the Bootcamp.
• Aug - Sept: Boot Camp - Finalist will attend a 6-week virtual innovation bootcamp hosted by OPay Digitals experts.
• July - December: OPay Futures - High-performing contestants go through mentorship with internships and job placement opportunities.
• Nov 6: Grand Finale - The top 4 teams will pitch their refined solutions to tech industry giants and angel investors at the Empowering Futures Conference 2.0.

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars' Program at ALCHE 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered. All submissions must be in English. Files accepted: PDF, JPEG, or MP4 (max 10MB each)

For more information, kindly visit Opay Innovation Challenge webpage.