LAGOS, NIGERIA — Nigerian fintech giant OPay has extended the application deadline for its 2026 National Innovation Challenge to July 3, 2026, following overwhelming interest from students across tertiary institutions nationwide.
The National Innovation Challenge is a key component of the expanded OPay Scholars Programme 2026, a talent development initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians through education, innovation, digital skills, and career opportunities.
The deadline extension gives more students the opportunity to participate in the competition and submit innovative solutions that could address real-world challenges while gaining access to mentorship, training, and career development opportunities.
OPay Extends Innovation Challenge Deadline
Originally scheduled to close on June 14, the application window has now been extended to July 3 after receiving a significant number of requests from students seeking additional time to complete and submit their applications.
Eligible students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria can apply in teams of five through OPay’s innovation challenge portal.
The fintech company said the extension reflects its commitment to ensuring that more talented young Nigerians have the opportunity to showcase their ideas and participate in the programme.
OPay Partners Federal Government’s 3MTT Programme
In a major boost to the initiative, OPay announced a strategic partnership with the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, the Federal Government’s flagship digital skills development initiative under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The collaboration is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital talent pipeline and provide more pathways for young people to access innovation, technical training, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities.
Through the partnership, 3MTT will collaborate with Google and OPay during the webinar and bootcamp stages of the National Innovation Challenge, while also helping to expand awareness of the programme through its nationwide network of fellows and communities.
OPay Scholars Programme Expands Beyond Scholarships
The National Innovation Challenge forms part of the broader OPay Scholars Programme, which has evolved into a comprehensive education and talent development platform.
The initiative builds upon OPay’s ₦1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship commitment to tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The programme now operates through three major pillars:
- The ₦1.2 billion 10-Year Scholarship Programme
- The National Innovation Challenge
- OPay Futures Career Development Initiative
Together, these programmes are designed to support students through education, innovation, mentorship, employability training, and career advancement opportunities.
OPay: Investing in Nigeria’s Future Talent
Speaking on the development, OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Itoro Udo, said the company remains committed to helping young Nigerians unlock their full potential.
According to Udo, OPay sees talent as one of Nigeria’s greatest assets and aims to create pathways that connect education with innovation, employability, and long-term economic opportunities.
She noted that the response to the National Innovation Challenge has exceeded expectations, prompting the company to extend the application deadline to allow more students to participate and benefit from the programme.
3MTT Highlights Job Creation and Digital Skills Development
Commenting on the partnership, Francis Sani, Programme Director of 3MTT, said the collaboration aligns with the government’s vision of building technical talent at scale and creating pathways from learning to earning.
According to him, the partnership combines the strengths of both the public and private sectors to equip young Nigerians with future-ready skills while improving access to employment opportunities within the growing digital economy.
He added that the initiative supports broader efforts to create jobs, accelerate innovation, and develop a globally competitive workforce.
How Students Can Apply
Interested students enrolled in Nigerian tertiary institutions can still apply for the National Innovation Challenge before the new deadline of July 3, 2026.
Applications must be submitted as teams of five students.
The programme offers participants access to training, mentorship, innovation bootcamps, networking opportunities, and exposure to industry experts.
Why the OPay-3MTT Partnership Matters
The partnership represents a growing trend of collaboration between government agencies and private sector organisations to address skills gaps and unemployment among Nigerian youths.
By bringing together OPay, 3MTT, Google, educational institutions, and industry experts, the programme seeks to create a sustainable ecosystem that equips young Nigerians with the knowledge, credentials, and practical experience needed to compete in both local and global markets.
As Nigeria continues its push toward a technology-driven economy, initiatives such as the OPay Scholars Programme are expected to play a critical role in developing the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and digital professionals.
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