Founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has commended financial technology company OPay for its investment in young Nigerians, saying initiatives such as its National Innovation Challenge have helped create opportunities for young people with innovative ideas.
Onakoya spoke at the OPay Live Town Hall held in Lagos, where he also addressed concerns over misinformation surrounding the financial services company.
He said empowering young people requires listening to their ideas and creating opportunities that respond to their actual needs rather than imposing solutions on them.
According to him, the National Innovation Challenge attracted thousands of applications from young Nigerians, including undergraduates with ideas on how technology and business could be used to improve lives and address some of the country’s challenges.
Onakoya said the large number of applications and enquiries received during the process reflected the enthusiasm and potential among young Nigerians seeking opportunities to develop their ideas.
He said many talented young people lacked opportunities rather than intelligence or ambition.
Drawing from his experience working with children and young people in disadvantaged communities, Onakoya said talent was widespread but access to opportunities remained unequal.
“Talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t,” he said, stressing the need for individuals and organisations to help bridge the gap between young people’s dreams and the opportunities needed to realise them.
Onakoya said this was why the Innovation Challenge was important, as it provided young people with a platform to present their ideas and potentially access the support needed to develop them.
He also addressed misinformation concerning OPay, noting that the rapid spread of unverified information could cause anxiety among millions of Nigerians who rely on the platform for their financial transactions.
According to him, customers deserve clarity and accurate information from institutions entrusted with their money.
However, he said public confidence in institutions should not be undermined by information that has not been properly verified.
Onakoya said trust between customers and financial institutions was built over time through consistent service, transparency and accountability.
He said his experience with OPay had largely been through its work with young Nigerians under the Innovation Challenge, which he described as impactful.
The Chess in Slums Africa founder urged OPay to continue strengthening public confidence through excellent service and transparency while sustaining investments in young people and communities.
He said the town hall should serve as an opportunity to promote a broader conversation about trust, responsibility and the importance of verifying information.
Onakoya added that while institutions must be held accountable, Nigerians should also be careful not to damage public trust through the circulation of unverified claims.
He maintained that OPay had continued to demonstrate its willingness to create opportunities for young people and expressed hope that the company’s support for innovation and youth empowerment would be sustained.
Onakoya concluded by expressing confidence in the financial services company, saying, “OPay is okay,” while urging Nigerians to continue supporting initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for young people.
