Students can now access OPay's ₦1.2bn scholarship through 25 schools, 41 by 2026

OPay has expanded its ₦1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship programme through a new partnership with Miva Open University, bringing the number of partner tertiary institutions to 25 and setting a target of 41 institutions by the end of 2026. The announcement — reported by Techpoint Africa — positions the initiative as a long-running, education-focused commitment supporting students across Nigeria.

The addition of Miva Open University marks the latest expansion of the programme, which OPay has structured as a decade-long investment rather than a short-term disbursement. The ₦1.2 billion figure represents the total funding committed across the full 10-year period of the initiative. With 25 institutions now covered, OPay says it plans to add 16 more partner schools over the next two years to reach its 41-institution target by the end of 2026.

What the expansion means for students

The partnership with Miva Open University extends scholarship access to students attending that institution. OPay has not specified per-institution funding allocations or per-student amounts in the announcement. The programme forms part of OPay's broader education-focused programmes supporting students across Nigeria, indicating a sustained investment in educational access alongside the company's core financial services operations.

For students, the expansion widens the pool of eligible institutions. The move from 25 to a planned 41 partner institutions suggests a deliberate rollout strategy rather than a one-time addition. Newly added institutions can channel students into the scholarship pipeline through their existing financial aid or scholarship offices, though the announcement did not detail application mechanics or selection criteria.

Why this matters for Nigeria's education sector

Tertiary education access in Nigeria faces persistent challenges, including funding gaps that leave many qualified students unable to complete their programmes. Corporate scholarship schemes — particularly those with a decade-long commitment — provide a stable funding stream that institutions can plan around. OPay's involvement reflects a growing trend of Nigerian fintech companies extending their social investment portfolios beyond financial inclusion into education.

The decision to partner with Miva Open University is notable. As an open university model, Miva operates with delivery methods that may differ from traditional on-campus institutions, potentially expanding the reach of the scholarship to students who study remotely or under flexible schedules. The announcement does not specify whether the scholarship covers tuition only or extends to other costs such as materials, data, or examination fees.

What's next

OPay has not yet disclosed which institutions will be added in the push toward 41 partners by the end of 2026, nor has the company published a timeline for onboarding the remaining 16 schools. Students interested in the programme should monitor official announcements from OPay and their institutions for application windows and eligibility requirements. Given the publicly stated 2026 target, the expansion timeline suggests announcements may come in phases over the next two years.