By Amina Ebor
The Office of the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has partnered with OPay Digital Services to expand access to quality higher education through a scholarship initiative for students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
The collaboration qualifies AAU as one of 20 tertiary institutions selected to participate in OPay’s 10-year National Scholarship Programme, an initiative aimed at promoting academic excellence and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education).
Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on SDGs, Sally Suleiman, described the partnership as a demonstration of the impact that can be achieved when government and the private sector work together to invest in education.
She commended OPay Digital Services for supporting higher education through its corporate social responsibility initiatives, noting that the scholarship programme would provide meaningful opportunities for students while contributing to human capital development in Edo State.
The agreement was signed by the then Acting Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Prof. Sunday Samuel Olowo, and representatives of OPay Digital Services led by the company’s Head of Partnerships, Ikponmwosa Kolawole Odiase.
Speaking at the event, Odiase said the scholarship programme reflects OPay’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and supporting outstanding students across Nigeria.
According to him, the initiative is designed to ease the financial burden on students while enabling them to pursue their academic goals through sustained scholarship support.
The OPay delegation also included the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Itoro Udo; Marketing Manager, Shullamite Anderson-Kalu; Head of Production, Hong Zhao; Design Lead, Yue Xin; and Head of Motion Production, Kang Yao, among other officials.
The Edo SDGs Office said the partnership aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda and underscores the state’s commitment to leveraging strategic collaborations to improve educational opportunities and drive sustainable development across Edo State.
