CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE— In a significant increase to Nigeria’s technological education landscape, the leading Financial Innovation (Fintech) firm, OPay, has actually unveiled plans to develop a specialized cybersecurity lab at the University of Calabar (UniCal).
The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, throughout a high-level strategic go to by the OPay delegation to the organization’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Offiong Offiong.
The job, which is set to be carried out by Hunter Flex Intercoms Building and construction Business, represents a substantial growth of the partnership in between the Fintech giant and the university, which first commenced in 2023.
Bridging the Global Cyber-Skills Gap
The proposed laboratory is designed to act as a high-tech incubator for digital security, supplying trainees with the tools and environment necessary to master ethical hacking, data protection, and digital forensics.
Speaking throughout the visit, the leader of the OPay delegation, Itoro Udo, stressed that the company is committed to providing “concrete and impactful jobs” that move beyond theoretical knowing.
Read also: UNICAL commissions PRIMS project lorries for maternal and kid health
The effort comes at a time when the global need for cybersecurity experts is at an all-time high, especially within Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Core Objectives of the Cybersecurity Laboratory:
-
Technical Efficiency: Hands-on training in recognizing and alleviating systemic digital dangers.
-
Market Readiness: Aligning trainee projects with the real-world security requirements of the Fintech sector.
-
Infrastructure Support: Strengthening UniCal’s internal technological structure and research study capacity.
-
Development Center: Supplying a space for students to develop exclusive security protocols for Nigerian platforms.
Strategic Support for NUGA 2026
Beyond technological investment, OPay likewise announced its dedication to supporting the University of Calabar in hosting the 2026 Nigeria University Games (NUGA), scheduled for August. This dual-pronged assistance highlights the firm’s method of purchasing both the intellectual and physical advancement of Nigerian youths.
Teacher Offiong, the Vice-Chancellor, applauded OPay for the timely intervention, noting that the lab would place UniCal students ahead of their peers in the competitive digital innovation space. He declared the university’s commitment to offering all needed logistical support to guarantee the task’s successful delivery.
Sustaining Technological Gains
The Vice-Chancellor even more revealed that the university is institutionalising crucial sporting and technological infrastructure to ensure that the gains from the 2026 video games and the brand-new OPay lab are sustained for future generations.
The laboratory is anticipated to be a cornerstone of the university’s Faculty of Physical Sciences, working as a regional center for cybersecurity quality in the South-South geopolitical zone.
The presence of the construction company throughout the visit indicates an immediate commencement of the structural and technical installation phases.