OPay signs MoU with University of Calabar to establish a cybersecurity lab under its CSR education drive. Firm pledges annual expert training sessions

OPay signs MoU with University of Calabar to support the establishment of a cybersecurity laboratory under its education-focused CSR initiative.

Also read: OPay – From Payment Platform to Lifestyle Ecosystem

The agreement was formalised during the OPay CSR Empower in Futures 2025 event held in Lagos on Friday, which also celebrated 420 beneficiaries of the fintech firm’s ₦1.2bn ten-year scholarship programme for Nigerian university students.

Speaking at the event, OPay’s Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Elizabeth Wang, explained that the company’s vision goes beyond digital payments, extending to long-term social investment through education and technology.

“At OPay, our vision is to be the most respected financial technology company that creates real social value,” Wang said. “We believe in the future — and the student is the future. Education is the future.”

She revealed that the cyber lab project followed a request from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar and that OPay would not only provide technical and infrastructure support but also transfer knowledge through annual lectures delivered by its experts.

“We will send our team at least once a year to lecture students on the latest cybersecurity and technology trends,” she added.

Wang also confirmed that OPay had signed similar long-term partnerships with several universities and had disbursed ₦126 million in the first phase of its ₦1.2 billion scholarship scheme, benefiting 420 students across 20 universities.

CSR Manager, Itoro Udo, described the initiative as part of OPay’s broader mission to “use technology to build bridges and connect communities,” saying it represents a powerful investment in the nation’s future innovators.

At the event, university leaders and scholarship beneficiaries praised the firm’s intervention. Professor Rahila Plangnan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Jos, urged OPay to deepen its student engagement beyond financial aid, while Dr Basilia Igbokwe, Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, described the scholarship as “a lifeline transforming lives across Nigeria.”

Professor Patrick Egaga, Dean of Student Affairs at UniCal, highlighted the MoU’s impact, noting that the cyber lab would enhance the university’s cybersecurity programme and help combat crimes such as phone theft and kidnapping through digital forensics.

Also read: Presidency Blasts Dino Melaye over Debt Remarks

With the OPay signs MoU with University of Calabar partnership, the fintech company reinforces its role as a key driver of digital inclusion and educational advancement in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.