A GREATER UNIZIK IS POSSIBLE
OPay Partners UNIZIK on Career Developments, unveils 10-Year Scholarship Programme
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has secured a partnership with OPay to provide scholarship and career development opportunities for its students, with 20 indigent students expected to benefit annually from the scholarship programme for a period of 10 years.
The partnership was formalised during a courtesy visit by a delegation from OPay to the University, where discussions centred on the scholarship programme and other opportunities for student development.
Speaking during the visit, the Head of Partnership (Director), OPay, Mr I. K. Odiase, said the organisation was at the University to establish a partnership that would support students through its scholarship initiative.
Odiase explained that the scholarship programme worth N60m, provides ₦300,000 annually to 20 indigent students in each participating institution for 10 years. He said the initiative was intended to ease some of the financial burdens faced by students, including educational expenses and to also enable them concentrate on their studies.
According to him, OPay decided to extend the programme to more institutions following positive feedback from beneficiaries of its first phase, with UNIZIK selected as one of the institutions for the second phase. He said the initiative was driven by OPay’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its belief in the importance of education and the potential of young Nigerians.
Odiase added that the scholarship partnership could serve as the beginning of a broader relationship between OPay and the University, noting that the organisation had supported similar initiatives in other institutions.
Also speaking, OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mr Itoro Udo, said the organisation was expanding its support beyond scholarships to influence the career opportunities and career paths of students.
Itoro disclosed that OPay’s Innovation Challenge, which commenced with about 48 universities, had been narrowed down to 10 teams, with a team from Nnamdi Azikiwe University already making it through to the boot camp. He explained that the top four teams would proceed to the grand finale, where they would pitch locally designed, technology-driven ideas across different sectors to partners including Google, 3MTT, Visa and VERVE.
According to Itoro, OPay was also developing a talent pipeline through its partnership with 3MTT, which would provide opportunities for outstanding students to gain internship and job-placement experience in the fintech and corporate sectors before graduating.
Itoro further disclosed that UNIZIK was the 26th tertiary institution partnering with OPay under the initiative, adding that the organisation was targeting 41 institutions by the end of the year and would continue to expand its reach.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie, expressed appreciation to OPay for the partnership and welcomed the organisation to the University.
The Vice-Chancellor described UNIZIK as a pioneer in education and highlighted its large student population, and highlighted some of the University’s technology and innovation initiatives, including its technology pilot fund, and noted that UNIZIK was interested in working with partners who could support the development and application of technology.
He said the University was willing to deepen its relationship with OPay beyond the scholarship programme, particularly in the areas of technology, innovation and accessibility.
The Vice-Chancellor specifically proposed the installation of a lift in one of the University’s buildings as a possible area of collaboration, noting that such an intervention would improve mobility within the University and make the facility more accessible, particularly to persons with disabilities. He explained that the University places emphasis on supporting students with disabilities and noted that technology-driven interventions that could make life easier for members of the University community would be highly valuable.
Prof. Anyaehie assured the OPay delegation of the University’s willingness to work closely with the organisation, expressing optimism that the partnership would lead to further areas of collaboration.
The visit culminated in the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Nnamdi Azikiwe University and OPay, marking the commencement of the partnership.
Present at the event were Mr Aniebiet Akpan-Abasi, Contact Manager, OPay; Mr Victor Gozie Chukwunenye, the Link Person; Dr Chineye Gloria Okeke, Registrar; Dr Reginald Uzoechi, Chief Legal Officer; Prof Kingsley Ubaoji, Dean, Student Affairs; Prof Angela Ufele, Director Academic Planning; Prof Jeremiah L. Chukwuneke, Director, Alex Ekwueme Institute; Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attach, Director, Information and Public Relations; Prof Virginia Ebere Ejiofor, Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences; and Comr. Nnake Winston, SUG President, UNIZIK.
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