OPay Scholarship Application Guide
INTRODUCTION
Pursuing higher education in Nigeria comes with a range of challenges, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. The OPay University Scholarship Program is a commendable initiative that seeks to bridge this gap by providing financial assistance and professional development opportunities to deserving undergraduate students.
This blog post was developed by the Eureka Community to support applicants in crafting compelling, thoughtful, and well-structured responses to the OPay scholarship essay questions. It includes sample responses, guiding tips, and suggestions tailored to help students:
➔ Reflect their unique stories and aspirations
➔ Align their goals with the vision of the OPay Scholarship
➔ Show how the scholarship will contribute to their academic, personal, and professional growth.
The content draws from real student experiences and is guided by the core values of academic excellence, inclusivity, leadership, and community impact—all of which are central to the OPay scholarship mission.
Application Link (for Federal University of Technology, Minna, 2025): Click
Scholarship Information Page: Click
A NOTE FROM THE EUREKA TEAM
At Eureka, we believe that brilliance is everywhere—even when opportunity is not. This guide is our small way of bridging that gap. Whether you’re the first in your family to attend university or someone striving to reach the next level of excellence, know that your story matters—and it’s powerful. We encourage you to write with honesty, clarity, and hope.
This is more than an application. It’s a step toward the future you dream of.
"Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you may miss them."
— William Arthur Ward
Join the Eureka Community: Whatsapp
DISCLAIMER:
This guide is intended to serve as a support resource only. It does not guarantee selection for the OPay scholarship. The sample responses provided are meant to offer guidance and inspiration—not templates to copy word-for-word. We strongly encourage all applicants to personalize their responses, staying true to their unique experiences, values, and goals. Authenticity is key.
APPLICATION PROMPTS
1. Background: Please describe your family structure and economic status
● Tell them the total number of members in your family and your parents’ jobs, subtly demonstrating why you need the funds from the scholarship.
"I come from a family of 8, including my parents and siblings. My father doubles as a commercial motorist and farmer, while my mum is a petty trader. The net earnings of my parents are barely sufficient to meet the family’s basic needs, hence, we fall within the low-middle income bracket. Even though my parents are committed to giving us the best education, financial limitations have made this a constant struggle and, at times, left them feeling unfulfilled."
2. Motivation: What are your educational aspirations, personal growth, and Family legacy
● Outline your Educational/career goals, emphasizing your commitment to academic excellence as a student. Describe what you aim to achieve after completing your studies and the steps you are currently taking, or have already taken, to develop yourself to achieve this vision. Then, explain how you plan to use your success to improve the lives of your family and how you hope to make a positive impact on your community as well. While personal aspirations are important, demonstrate how your growth will also contribute to the well-being of others.
"My educational aspiration is to earn a bachelor's degree in Physics with an excellent final grade(You can be more specific like a ‘first-class’ if it is realistic relative to your current CGPA and level), pursue postgraduate studies in Medical Physics, and gain practical experience through internships and jobs that will enable me to contribute meaningfully to the global fight against cancer, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
I am currently one of the top students in my department and remain committed to both academic and extracurricular excellence. To broaden my knowledge, I have taken online courses such as “Educational Leadership and Inclusivity” on Udemy, as well as foundational courses in Python programming to build skills in machine learning.
In addition, I volunteer with the Eureka Academic Body on campus, where we promote academic excellence through tutorials and outreach programs to secondary schools. This platform has helped me grow in emotional intelligence and communication skills through teaching and mentoring others.
Ultimately, my goal is to provide my family with greater financial stability after school, ensuring they have access to better opportunities, healthcare, and a higher standard of living, inspire and support children from low-income backgrounds to pursue their dreams, and build a stellar career that advances cancer research and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa."
3. Hobbies and Skills: Please tell us about your hobbies and skills
● Let your answer here connect to your motivation and show strong values, especially the ones that the scholarship promotes.
"My hobbies include reading about ongoing research in Physics and Artificial Intelligence, studying personal development books—especially on leadership—watching Sci-Fi movies and football, and teaching others.
I am technically skilled in graphic design and Python programming. My soft skills include effective communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence, which I continue to develop through volunteering and mentoring activities."
4. Challenges and Frustration: Why should the scheme support you
● Tell how financial constraints have impacted your academic performance or slowed your progress toward your career goals, such as needing to take on part-time jobs, missing academic opportunities, or lacking access to learning resources. Don’t just wrap your answer around the money they offer; they also offer internships and other things you need to mention.
"As a first-generation student from a low-income family, I have had to take multiple part-time teaching jobs in basic schools to fund my education. Juggling work and academics has significantly affected my grades, as I often have less time to study and occasionally miss classes that clash with my job schedule.
The financial support from this scholarship will relieve me of the burden of working to fund my education. I am convinced that with more time, I will perform better academically and be able to focus on developing other aspects of my life, including volunteering more to impact others. Additionally, the scholarship program’s commitment to developing its scholars through internship and research opportunities would serve as a strong springboard toward achieving my career aspirations."
5. Goals: What goals do you wish/Intend to achieve with the scholarship
● Look at the scholarship goals and tailor some of yours to fit with them. Also, add a goal that directly benefits Opay. (Link discussing scholarship goals)
"With this scholarship, I aim to achieve three key objectives that will significantly contribute to my academic and personal growth:
➔ Academic Excellence: Dedicate more time to my studies to improve grades and deepen my understanding of my field.
➔ Skill Development: Pay for online courses and attend conferences related to Medical Physics and cancer research to broaden my knowledge and skills.
➔ Increased Volunteering: Having more time on my hands, I will volunteer more by organizing tutorials to teach weaker students, mentoring, and engaging in community outreach, especially to primary and secondary schools."
6. Scholarship Impact: What is the impact of the scholarship that will be received.
● State how this scholarship will help you and how it will extend to communities. Also, mention your intention to support and contribute to Opay and its mission.
"The impact of this scholarship will be transformative in both my academic and personal growth. It will allow me to focus more on academic excellence by removing the financial pressures of part-time work, enabling me to dedicate more time to my studies, improve my grades, and deepen my understanding of my field. Additionally, the scholarship will provide me with the opportunity to take courses and attend conferences aligned with my career goals and skills.
Beyond academics, the scholarship will enable me to volunteer more, dedicating time to mentoring and community outreach, which will enhance my leadership and communication skills while allowing me to give back to others.
I’m also excited about the opportunity to connect with and learn from like-minded Opay scholars. Through this community, I look forward to collaborating and finding ways to give back to my institution and serve as an ambassador for Opay, promoting its values and supporting its mission to provide equal education opportunity for all."
