UNCAL VC To OPAY: “Your Actions Align With My Mandate”

By Eyo Offiong

The Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, said that the actions of Opay Digital Services Limited match his vision and mandate for the institution.

He made the remark during a courtesy visit by Opay officials in the Vice‑Chancellor’s Conference Room.

Prof. Offiong explained that Opay’s initiative aligns with his mandate to broaden partnerships that support the university’s growth.

“The university cannot stand alone. “It will grow as society grows when we maintain strong ties with corporate organisations, industries and institutions”, he said.

He described Opay as a vibrant financial‑services company in Nigeria and praised its decision to establish a cybersecurity lab at the institution.

Prof. Offiong noted that such a lab would help protect the university’s data and provide a valuable learning environment.

The Vice Chancellor also stressed the importance of training students in cybersecurity, expressing confidence that UNICAL could become a leading source of cybersecurity experts in Nigeria.

He added that his administration looks forward to a fruitful relationship with Opay and welcomes further collaboration.

Earlier, the Director of Partnerships, Ikponwosa Odiase who led the team from Opay said the visit was to formally welcome the Vice‑Chancellor and affirm the partnership between the two organisations.

He explained that Opay, beyond offering financial services, is committed to social responsibility and selected UNICAL for its cybersecurity project.

“We are proud of our secure platform; we want to equip the next generation of students to combat fraud and cyber‑attacks,” he said.

The team leader said Opay is ready to train students and collaborate on upcoming events such as the NUGA games.

The Associate Director, Merchant Acquiring Education, Olumide Olubobokun, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Itoro Udo and Social Media Content Specialist, Aniebiet Abasi Akpan were part of the Opay Team