Nigerian fintech company OPay has partnered with Google to expand its ₦1.2 billion scholarship initiative aimed at supporting students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The expanded programme is designed to improve access to education, digital learning opportunities, and technology-focused skills development for young Nigerians, particularly students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
According to OPay, the collaboration with Google will strengthen the scholarship programme through additional digital learning resources, training opportunities, mentorship support, and technology-driven educational tools.
The initiative forms part of OPay’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy focused on youth empowerment, education access, and digital inclusion. The company said the programme aims to reduce financial barriers faced by students while helping beneficiaries build relevant skills for the digital economy.
Officials noted that the scholarship scheme will cover students from multiple tertiary institutions nationwide and is expected to provide financial support alongside digital capacity-building opportunities.
Industry stakeholders say partnerships between technology companies and educational institutions are becoming increasingly important as demand grows for digital and technology-related skills across Africa. Analysts also note that fintech firms are expanding investments in education and talent development to support long-term growth within the digital economy ecosystem.
The collaboration comes amid rising efforts by private sector organisations to complement government initiatives focused on youth employment, digital literacy, and technology innovation. Nigeria continues to experience strong growth in fintech adoption and digital services, increasing demand for skilled technology professionals. (weforum.org) Education advocates say programmes that combine financial support with digital training and mentorship could help improve employability outcomes for students while strengthening Nigeria’s broader innovation ecosystem.
