OPay Nigeria, in Lagos, on September 30, 2026, announced the top 10 teams advancing in its N18 million National Innovation Challenge, an initiative delivered in partnership with Google and the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical innovation and employability skills.
The OPay N18m Innovation Challenge attracted more than 11,000 student applicants and 2,200 teams across Nigeria, marking one of the fintech’s largest youth-focused innovation drives to date as interest in technology and entrepreneurship continues to grow among young Nigerians.
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Following a competitive selection process, 48 teams were shortlisted to participate in a six-week employability webinar designed to strengthen technical capacity, build workplace-relevant skills and prepare participants for the next phase of the programme.
At the conclusion of the training stage, 10 standout teams were selected to advance to an intensive boot camp where they will work closely with mentors and industry professionals to refine their ideas into scalable solutions.
OPay CSR Manager, Itoro Udoh, said the initiative goes beyond competition, focusing instead on long-term impact and opportunity creation for young innovators.
“Beyond the challenge, our goal is to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, mentorship and pathways to opportunities that can create lasting impact,” Itoro Udoh said.
The OPay N18m Innovation Challenge also includes a total prize pool of ₦18 million, but organisers emphasise that the programme is structured as a broader capacity-building platform rather than a traditional contest, with emphasis on learning, mentorship and employability.
Participants who performed exceptionally well during the webinar stage will also be considered for the OPay Futures pipeline, which offers potential internship placements with OPay and partner organisations, creating a bridge between learning and real-world experience.
Industry observers note that initiatives such as the OPay N18m Innovation Challenge reflect a growing trend among fintech companies in Nigeria to invest in human capital development, particularly within the student and early-career ecosystem.
The initiative is also aligned with national digital skills development efforts under the 3MTT programme, which aims to expand Nigeria’s technical workforce and strengthen participation in the global digital economy.
As the selected teams proceed to the boot camp stage, expectations are high that their solutions will evolve into practical innovations capable of addressing challenges in education, payments, productivity and digital services across Nigeria’s growing tech landscape.
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The 10 shortlisted teams include Lyrclip from Miva Open University, ResearchFlow from Olabisi Onabanjo University, CampusCheck from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Veripay from 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.
