OPay, in collaboration with Google and the Federal Government's 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, has announced the 10 finalist teams for its National Innovation Challenge, which offers ₦18 million in prizes. The finalists were selected from over 11,000 students who participated in the nationwide competition, reflecting the growing interest among young Nigerians in technology, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving.
Competition Attracts 2,200 Teams Nationwide
Organised under the expanded OPay Scholars Programme, the challenge attracted approximately 2,200 teams from institutions across the country. Participants developed technology-driven solutions to real-world problems. Following the initial selection process, 48 teams advanced to a six-week employability webinar designed to enhance their technical knowledge, workplace skills, and readiness for the next phase.
At the end of the webinar programme, 10 teams secured places in the final stage. The finalist teams are: 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; Verified Hands and Thrifty from Ahmadu Bello University; SkoolConnectNG from Yaba College of Technology; and Team Paye from Adeleke University.
Finalists to Attend Intensive Boot Camp
The selected teams will proceed to an intensive boot camp, where industry professionals will mentor them as they develop, test, and refine their solutions ahead of the final competition. OPay's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Itoro Udoh, said the initiative goes beyond rewarding winning ideas and is intended to help young Nigerians build practical skills and gain access to opportunities.
"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.
₦18 Million Prize Pool and Internship Opportunities
The National Innovation Challenge has a total prize pool of ₦18 million and is designed to expose participants to practical innovation, professional mentorship, and Nigeria's growing technology ecosystem, according to a report by MSME Africa. OPay also disclosed that outstanding participants from the webinar stage could be considered for its OPay Futures pipeline, opening another potential career path.
Selected participants may gain access to three-month internship opportunities with OPay and its partner organisations. The initiative forms part of OPay's broader investment in education, digital skills, youth employability, and innovation in Nigeria. The 10 teams will now refine their ideas at the boot camp before proceeding to the final stage, where the eventual winners of the ₦18 million prize pool will emerge.
