In a major win for indigent students in Edo State, the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has secured a ₦1.2 billion education grant from OPay Digital Services for Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, under a new corporate social responsibility partnership.
The grant, part of OPay’s decade-long national scholarship programme, will benefit students in 20 tertiary institutions across Nigeria, with AAU becoming the latest institution to join the initiative aimed at lifting financial burdens off low-income families.
Speaking to journalists on the landmark agreement, Ms. Sally Suleiman, Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on SDGs, described the development as a significant step towards inclusive and equitable education in Edo State. “This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all,” Suleiman stated.
“We are honoured that Edo State has now joined this prestigious circle, ensuring that indigent students in Ambrose Alli University will benefit from this impactful program,” she added, noting that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also feature the presentation of the first batch of scholarship awards to beneficiaries.
Suleiman hailed the collaboration with OPay as a game-changer in tackling educational inequality. “This partnership is a major step forward in dismantling financial barriers to education in the state,” she said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships for sustainable development.
She also reiterated the Okpebholo administration’s focus on expanding access to quality education. “We thank OPay for their partnership and trust, and we remain focused on bringing development closer to our people through meaningful and measurable action,” Suleiman affirmed.
With Edo State now tapping into this multi-billion naira scholarship scheme, hundreds of AAU students are expected to benefit, marking a new chapter in the state’s efforts to ease access to tertiary education.
