OPay has officially announced the OPay Innovation Challenge 2026, a nationwide initiative designed to discover, fund, and mentor Nigeria’s brightest undergraduate innovators building solutions for Africa’s most pressing challenges.
The program expands on OPay’s long-term ₦1.2 billion scholarship commitment and combines financial support with innovation training, mentorship, and career placement opportunities.
Apply HERE for Opay ₦10 Million Innovation Challenge
A National Drive for Student Innovation
The Innovation Challenge is positioned as more than a competition.
According to the initiative outline, it is a structured platform aimed at transforming young Nigerians into future “technovators” capable of driving digital transformation across the continent.
The program focuses on combining education support with real-world innovation experience, helping students develop scalable solutions with social and economic impact.
Key Objectives of the Challenge
The 2026 edition is designed to:
- Strengthen digital and problem-solving skills among Nigerian undergraduates
- Encourage innovation addressing real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and agriculture
- Connect students with mentorship, funding, and career pathways in Africa’s growing tech ecosystem
Innovation Themes Open to Participants
Applicants are encouraged to build solutions across high-impact sectors shaping Africa’s future, including:
- Fintech & Digital Payments
- Healthtech
- Cybersecurity & Data Protection
- Edtech
- AI & Automation for Social Good
- Climate & Sustainability Solutions
- Agritech
- Digital Tools for SMEs and Informal Sector
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the competition, applicants must:
- Be undergraduate students in a Nigerian tertiary institution
- Demonstrate proficiency in AI-assisted design workflows (e.g., Canva–Gemini tools)
- Maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.8/4 (polytechnics) or 3.5/5 (universities)
- Show evidence of financial need (preferred consideration)
Prizes and Benefits for Winners
The competition offers significant financial and professional rewards:
🥇 1st Place – OPay National Innovator of the Year
- ₦10,000,000 project grant
- ₦300,000 scholarship award
- National media feature
- Mentorship with industry experts
- Prototype development support
- Job opportunity placement
🥈 2nd Place
- ₦5,000,000 project grant
- ₦300,000 scholarship award
- Innovation fellowship
- Media exposure and advisory support
🥉 3rd Place
- ₦3,000,000 project grant
- ₦300,000 scholarship award
- Innovation fellowship
- Certificate and national recognition
Programme Timeline for 2026
The challenge will run across multiple phases:
May – June: Applications and screening
- Over 100,000 expected applications
- 48 teams (240 students) shortlisted
June – August: Webinars and assessment
- 6-week virtual training series
- Final exam (30 questions, 30 minutes)
- Top 10 teams advance
August – September: Bootcamp
- 6-week innovation training program led by OPay experts
July – December: OPay Futures Programme
- Mentorship, internships, and job placement opportunities
November 6: Grand Finale
- Top 4 teams pitch solutions at Empowering Futures Conference 2.0
Application Deadline
The deadline for submissions is: June 14, 2026
All applications must be completed in English, and submissions are accepted in PDF, JPEG, or MP4 formats (maximum 10MB per file).
Apply HERE for Opay ₦10 Million Innovation Challenge
Final Note
The OPay Innovation Challenge 2026 represents one of the most ambitious youth innovation programs in Nigeria’s fintech and education landscape, positioning students to move from classroom learning to real-world problem solving with direct industry exposure.
