OPay, in partnership with Google and the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, has unveiled the 10 teams that have advanced to the Boot Camp stage of its National Innovation Challenge under the expanded OPay Scholars Programme.
The challenge attracted more than 11,000 students and 2,200 teams, highlighting growing interest among young Nigerians in developing technology-driven solutions to real-world challenges across different sectors.
Following a competitive selection process, 48 teams were initially shortlisted for a six-week employability webinar aimed at strengthening their knowledge, building workplace-relevant skills and preparing them for the next phase of the competition.
At the conclusion of the webinar, 10 teams emerged as the leading participants and will now proceed to an intensive Boot Camp, where they will work with experienced mentors and industry professionals to develop, test and refine their solutions ahead of the final stage.
Speaking on the initiative, CSR Manager, OPay, Itoro Udoh, said the programme was designed to provide young Nigerians with practical opportunities to transform their ideas and skills into solutions capable of creating lasting impact.
«“Beyond the challenge, our goal is to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, mentorship and pathways to opportunities that can create lasting impact,” Udoh said.»
The National Innovation Challenge has a total prize pool of N18 million, with participants also gaining practical experience and opportunities to engage with professionals within Nigeria’s innovation and technology ecosystem.
Beyond the competition itself, students who demonstrate exceptional performance during the webinar stage may be considered for the OPay Futures pipeline, which could provide access to potential three-month internship opportunities with OPay and other artner organisations.
The 10 teams advancing to the Boot Camp are Lyrclip from Miva Open University; ResearchFlow from Olabisi Onabanjo University; CampusCheck from the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; Veripay from MOAUM, Benue State University; CoursePass from Lagos State University of Science and Technology; Teamcobuild from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Verified Hands from Ahmadu Bello University; SkoolConnectNG from Yaba College of Technology; Thrifty from Ahmadu Bello University; and Team Paye from Adeleke University.
OPay said the initiative forms part of its broader commitment to supporting education, skills development, innovation and employability among young Nigerians.
The company said the 10 teams would now move a step closer to turning their ideas into practical solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
“As the top 10 teams advance to the Boot Camp, they move one step closer to transforming their ideas into solutions that can address real-world challenges and create a meaningful impact,” OPay said.
