A scholarship from OPay, a financial institution, has helped a student of the Ahmadu Bello University, Ayuba Bello, to achieve his dream of tertiary education while sparing his family land.
In a statement on Sunday, the fintech firm said the scholarship provides it opportunities to change lives.
The OPay scholarship not only covers tuition fees but also provides additional resources for students to thrive academically and personally.
“For Ayuba, becoming a student at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was more than academic progress—it was the fulfilment of a cherished childhood dream. However, like many gifted young Nigerians, Ayuba’s dream was on the verge of being botched by a challenge beyond his control: the lack of financial resources to fund his education.
“The 27-year-old young man with big dreams is one of ten children born into a family of subsistence farmers. Sometime last year, Bello almost dropped out of school due to financial challenges, and the only visible solution at the time was for his father to sell the family’s land, which they cultivated for their livelihood,” part of the statement read.
Thankfully, OPay’s timely intervention through the commendable scholarship programme at Ahmadu Bello University saved Bello’s family land, its primary source of livelihood.
An excited Bello, speaking on the impact of the scholarship, said, “I didn’t want any of my siblings to say that it was because of my education that the family land was sold. I am happy that OPay came to the rescue just in time. Selling the family land would have made me feel guilty for years.”
Opay said the impact of the scholarship has gone beyond Bello’s education, as his family’s livelihood has been preserved, allowing them to continue farming and sustaining their household.
“With the harvest from our land last year, we were able to sell enough produce to cover other family needs. OPay’s scholarship didn’t just help Ayuba; it helped our entire family,” Bello’s father said.
According to a 2021 report by Statista, an alarming 41 per cent of students in upper secondary educational levels are out of school, the major contributing factor being a lack of funds. With the increased inflation in the country, the current cost of education is almost twice the cost of five years ago.
OPay’s scholarship programme has become a lifeline for families like Bello’s, ensuring that financial hardships do not stand in the way of education.
Commenting on the scholarship, Executive Director, OPay Board & Chief Commercial Officer, Elizabeth Wang, said, “Ayuba Bello’s story is a powerful example of how access to education can transform lives.
“OPay has been driving transformative initiatives, with education leading the way. Our goal is to ensure that no talented student has to sacrifice their dreams or their family’s livelihood because of financial constraints.”
It was revealed that Bello, who is studying political science, is already thinking of ways to give back to his community.
“I want to use my knowledge to improve farming techniques in my community. This scholarship isn’t just an opportunity for me; it’s a chance to uplift others,” she concluded.
Established in 2018, Opay offers a wide range of payment services, including money transfer, bill payment, airtime & data purchase, card service, and merchant payments, among others.