The leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has applauded Fintech company, Opay following its clarification on its ongoing scholarship scheme organised for tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Blueprint recalls that NAPS had earlier accused the Fintech company of marginalizing the Polytechnic students for the scheme.
But in a wider consultation, the Students’ body and the Management of Opay met to discuss the differences.
The meeting held on the 30th of December, 2024 also discussed the opportunity in the Scholarship platform for Nigerian Students organised by OPAY and how the Polytechnic students can benefit largely.
The meeting was disclosed in a statement on Friday, 3rd of January, 2025 and issued by the NAPS Senate President, Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope.
According to the statement, in attendance at the meeting were: the Senate President of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope, alongside the NAPS structure Comrade Abdulmumeen Ibrahim, Comrade Olalere Benedict, NAPS Southwest PRO, Director of Media and Publicity, Top Management Staff of Opay in Lagos State.
The statement also noted that the meeting was made possible due to the timely intervention of the DSS Lagos State Command in response to an official letter written to OPAY.
During the meeting, the students’ body presented the position of NAPS that Polytechnic Students are always been marginalized in Nigeria, adding that different organizations do focus on University Students than Polytechnic Students.
In furtherance, NAPS submitted that if everyone will be sincere the Polytechnic graduates are contributing more to the economic development and progress of Nigeria than the university graduates.
“There is no doubt that OPAY as FINTECH is doing extremely well, Opay Services is efficient and effective, making financial transactions easy but the Polytechnic Students that formed the larger percent of the subscribers have not been considered in the CSR (Students Scholarship).
“The Proof Fund should also be considered by OPAY and finally submitted a plead to OPAY Management to consider the Polytechnic Students without looking into the HND/BSC Dichotomy in Nigeria.
In his response, the Chief Operation Officer (COO) of Opay, Mr Adedotun Adekunle dismissed claims that the company is subscribing to marginalization, encouraging HND/Bsc Dichotomy in Nigeria through its scholarship programme.
Mr Adedotun went on saying that he himself is a Polytechnic product which by no means he can be in support of such.
Clarifying further on the scholarship scheme, Mr Adedotun noted that the scheme was designed by OPAY Management to support Nigerian Students and has been for primary and secondary education category.
However, the management magnanimously decided to extend it to the Tertiary Institution in Nigeria while the pilot scheme is to know how this will help the students and selected University were picked at random.
He re-emphasized to NAPS Leadership that the Scholarship is for Tertiary Institutions not just University alone while assuring that some Polytechnic has been selected for the scheme and in due time those Polytechnic will be communicated.
“OPAY can not reach the entire Institution in Nigeria but at least all regions will have the effect of this scholarship, and some other OPAY staff present also responded appropriately.
“OPAY is committed to a financial comfort for all Nigerians and they can assure the NAPS leadership that Polytechnic Students have been considered for the scholarship.”
The response brought smiles to the faces of NAPS leadership in attendance.
The NAPS Senate President, Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope while responding to the submission of OPAY Management, commended and applauded OPAY for the community service and the easy and seamless financial transactions for Nigerians and ask for more collaboration between NAPS and OPAY in other programs.
