NAPS Leadership Meets with OPAY Top Management in Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria – December 30, 2024 – The leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), led by Senate President Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope, met with the top management of OPAY in Lagos State to discuss the inclusion of polytechnic students in OPAY’s scholarship program.
Other NAPS representatives at the meeting included Comrade Abdulmumeen Ibrahim, Comrade Olalere Benedict (NAPS Southwest PRO), and the Director of Media and Publicity.
The meeting was made possible through the intervention of the Lagos State Department of State Services (DSS) in response to an official letter sent to OPAY.
Polytechnic Students Demand Inclusion in OPAY Scholarship
During the meeting, Comrade Olalere Benedict highlighted the marginalization of polytechnic students in Nigeria. He pointed out that many corporate organizations prioritize university students over polytechnic students, despite the significant contributions of polytechnic graduates to Nigeria’s economic development.
He further noted that, despite polytechnic students being a major demographic of OPAY’s users, they had not been considered in the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, particularly the scholarship initiative. He urged OPAY to address this issue and ensure that the HND/BSc dichotomy does not hinder the inclusion of polytechnic students in the scheme.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of OPAY reassured NAPS that OPAY does not support the HND/BSc dichotomy, emphasizing that he himself is a polytechnic graduate. He explained that the scholarship program was initially designed for primary and secondary school students, but was later extended to tertiary institutions as a pilot scheme.
He clarified that universities were selected randomly for the initial phase, but assured NAPS that some polytechnics had also been chosen and would be communicated in due time. He further stated that while OPAY cannot reach every institution, all regions of Nigeria would benefit from the initiative.
The Head of Risk Management and the Head of CSR echoed these sentiments, assuring NAPS that polytechnic students were not intentionally excluded. They appreciated NAPS for engaging OPAY in dialogue and expressed commitment to further collaboration.
The meeting ended on a positive note, with the NAPS leadership expressing satisfaction with OPAY’s responses.
Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope, NAPS Senate President, commended OPAY for its efforts in financial inclusion and community service and called for stronger collaboration between NAPS and OPAY in future initiatives.
Comrade Oyewumi Festus, NAPS PRO Southwest, raised concerns about proof of funds for students applying for visas, urging OPAY to address this issue, as many students rely on OPAY for daily transactions.
Comrade Abdulmumeen Ibrahim, National Secretary of the NAPS Stakeholders Forum, praised OPAY for its efficient financial services and requested more business opportunities for polytechnic graduates and undergraduates.
The meeting strengthened communication between OPAY and NAPS, paving the way for polytechnic students to benefit from OPAY’s scholarship program and other future initiatives.
Aluta Continua… Victoria Ascerta!
Signed:
Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope
NAPS Senate President
