Opay grants N12 million scholarship to 40 ABU indigent students
Opay Digital Company, a mobile money subscriber firm, has disbursed N12 million scholarships to 40 indigent students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Each student will be given N300,000.
The scholarships disbursement took place at the Vice-Chancellor’s office today (Friday, 8th November, 2024 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ABU and the company.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of Opay Digital Company, Mr. Dauda Gotring, explained that part of their corporate social responsibility is to give scholarships to indigent students as a way of giving back to the society that has supported their growth.
Mr. Gotring, who is an alumnus of the University, stated that Opay has a special bond with ABU, hence its decision to pick 40 students from the University and pick 20 from other institutions.
The Managing Director disclosed that Opay is a brand well accepted and rooted in Nigeria, stressing that the company is stronger than all digital financial companies put together.
He said their target is for small end users and to promote financial inclusion as part of the digital policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The Managing Director announced that the Company is also going to empower women in Zaria on startup programmes and other commercial viables.
Mr. Gotring thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for the warm reception accorded them and prayed for it to be sustained.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, expressed gratitude to Opay on behalf of the University Management for the generosity.
Prof. Bala noted that the scholarship will go a long way in alleviating the financial problems of the beneficiaries.
The Vice-Chancellor said that sometimes in July, the Chief Public Affairs Officer of the Company, Mr. Justin Zhang, came to intimate the Management on their intention to give scholarships to 20 students.
The Vice-Chancellor said that he pleaded that ABU should be considered for more as it is the largest University in the country, saying that he is happy their plea has been considered.
Prof. Bala thanked Opay in advance for the forthcoming women programme, adding that the University has a responsibility to the host community.
He enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds given to them to better their stay on Campus.
In a remark, the Director, Counseling and Human Development Center, Dr. Sa’adatu Muhammad Makarfi, appreciated the Opay Company for considering the students.
The Director disclosed that the University has 959 indigent students, but after thorough screening, they were able to come up with 40, who are in dire need for the payment of their fees.
The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Raymond Bako; and Dean, Students Affairs Division, Prof. Sahalu Junaidu.
Others were Director, ICERFE, Dr. Idris Bashir Bugaje; Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Malam Auwalu Umar; and Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Malam Auwal Muhammad Yusuf.
The rest were University Counselor, Dr. Sa’adatu Atiku; Barr. Mrs. Aishatu Isah, University Legal Services; and a Staff of the Counseling and Human Development Center, Malam Ibrahim Usman, among many others.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
(AHW)
Friday, 8th November, 2024.
