Nigerian fintech giant OPay has entered into a partnership with the University of Calabar (UniCal) to establish a cutting-edge cybersecurity laboratory aimed at boosting digital literacy and enhancing cybersecurity education in Nigeria.
The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the OPay CSR Empower in Futures 2025 event held in Lagos on Friday.
The event also celebrated 420 student beneficiaries of OPay’s ₦1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship initiative for undergraduates across Nigerian universities.
According to The Punch, the cybersecurity lab forms part of OPay’s broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts focused on education and youth empowerment.
Speaking at the event, Elizabeth Wang, Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer at OPay Nigeria, said the initiative underscores the company’s long-term vision to create social value beyond fintech operations.
“Our vision at OPay is not just to be a leading financial technology company but to create social value. We believe in the future—and the future is education,” Wang said.
Wang revealed that the idea for the cybersecurity lab emerged following a request from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar during OPay’s outreach to the institution.
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“When we visited UniCal, the Vice-Chancellor asked if we could support the creation of a cyber lab. We decided not only to provide equipment or renovate the space but also to share our knowledge and technology with students,” she explained.
As part of the agreement, OPay will send a team of experts to the university annually to conduct knowledge-sharing sessions and update students on the latest cybersecurity trends.
“At least once a year, our team will deliver lectures to help students stay informed about new developments in cybersecurity and technology,” Wang added.
She further noted that OPay has already disbursed ₦126 million in scholarships to 420 students from 20 universities in the first year of its long-term educational support program.
OPay’s CSR Manager, Itoro Udo, described the initiative as a bridge between technology, opportunity, and empowerment.
“At OPay, technology is not just a business tool—it’s a means of building connections and creating opportunities for young Nigerians,” Udo said.
The event also featured emotional testimonials from scholarship beneficiaries, including Ajoke Abdullah, a graduate of Kwara State University, who said the scholarship helped her become the best graduating student in her department.
University officials present at the ceremony commended OPay’s intervention.
Professor Rahila Plangnan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Jos, lauded the fintech for giving “a lifeline” to students amid limited government funding.
Similarly, Dr. Basilia Igbokwe, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, described OPay’s 10-year scholarship as a “life-changing initiative” and urged the company to provide employment opportunities for graduates from the program.
At the University of Calabar, Professor Patrick Egaga, Dean of Student Affairs, emphasized the impact of the new cyber lab, noting that it will not only enhance learning but also aid national security efforts.
“With this cyber lab, we can strengthen digital forensics and help combat crimes like phone theft and kidnapping by improving our ability to trace communications,” Egaga told.
The partnership marks a significant step in OPay’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital education ecosystem and promoting a generation of tech-savvy graduates equipped to tackle emerging cyber threats.
