OPay Names 10 Finalists for ₦18m National Innovation Challenge

OPay has announced the 10 finalist teams advancing in its National Innovation Challenge, a competition run jointly with Google and the Federal Government's 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative. The challenge, which forms part of OPay's expanded Scholars Programme, carries a total prize pool of ₦18 million and aims to identify and support young Nigerian innovators developing technology-based solutions to real-world problems.

The scale of participation underscores rising interest among Nigerian youth in entrepreneurship and innovation. The initial call for entries drew responses from more than 11,000 students organised into approximately 2,200 teams across institutions nationwide.

All participating teams worked on creating solutions addressing challenges across different sectors of the economy. The selection process unfolded in stages.

A rigorous initial review narrowed the field to 48 teams, which then participated in a six-week webinar series designed to build workplace skills and deepen technical knowledge. The 10 finalists emerged at the conclusion of this training phase and now move forward to the next competitive stage, which includes internship opportunities for exceptional performers.

The partnership represents a convergence of private-sector innovation, technology expertise, and government support for skills development. The finalists will have access to mentorship and resources as they refine their proposed solutions before the final judging and prize distribution.