By Usman Aliyu

The Office of the Special Adviser to the Edo Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has secured a N1.2 billion education grant from OPay Digital Services for Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.

Ms Sally Suleiman, Special Adviser on SDGs to Gov. Monday Okpebholo, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and Opay.

The grant is part of OPay’s national scholarship initiative, a decade-long Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment aimed at supporting indigent students in 20 tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

With the agreement, AAU becomes the newest beneficiary of the initiative that aims to give hope to students from low-income families in the state.

The grant will be shared amongst the 20 lucky tertiary institutions in the country.

According to Suleiman, this latest feat reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive education.

“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to SDG 4, which is ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

“We are honoured that Edo has now joined this prestigious circle, ensuring that indigent students in Ambrose Alli University will benefit from this impactful programme.”

She said that the MoU would feature the presentation of the first batch of scholarship awards to the university.

Suleiman expressed appreciation to OPay, describing the partnership as a “major step forward in dismantling financial barriers to education in the state.”

She also reaffirmed the state’s readiness to collaborate with private sector actors to accelerate the delivery of the UN SDGs.

“We thank OPay for their partnership and trust, and we remain focused in bringing development closer to our people through meaningful and measurable action,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker