‎When Was Opay Founded in Nigeria? The Complete 2025 Guide

‎When Was Opay Founded in Nigeria?

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‎If you're asking "when was Opay founded in Nigeria?", here's everything you need to know:
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‎Opay’s Origins: From Paycom to Opera Pay
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‎The company behind Opay, Paycom Nigeria Limited, was originally founded in 2013 by Telnet Nigeria Limited. It was granted a CBN-issued mobile payment license and developed a tech framework to support digital payments in Nigeria.
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‎In August 2018, Opera Software acquired Paycom and rebranded it to Opera Pay (OPay). At the same time, it obtained a Mobile Money Operator license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, allowing it to operate widely in the Nigerian digital finance ecosystem.
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‎Officially, Opay Digital Services Limited began operations in Nigeria in 2018, under the newly adopted brand. It was also insured by the NDIC that same year.
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‎Relocation & Operations
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‎After the acquisition by Opera, headquarters were relocated to Ikeja, Lagos State, where Opay remains based. Since its rebranding in 2018, Opay shifted focus entirely to fintech services.
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‎Milestones at Launch
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‎Cairo 2018: Launch as Opera Pay with MMO license, offering mobile payments and agent banking.
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‎May 2019: Launch of POS agent services, gaining prominence during Nigeria's cash crisis.
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‎Rapid user and agent growth followed, scaling the business into one of the country’s leading digital finance platforms.
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‎Summary Table
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‎Company Phase Date Significance
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‎Paycom Nigeria Ltd 2013 Founded by Telnet with CBN license
‎Rebrand to Opera Pay August 2018 Acquired by Opera, licensed as mobile money operator
‎Official launch of Opay 2018 Rebranded formally and began full operations
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‎Why it Matters
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‎Though Paycom’s roots date back to 2013, Opay’s official launch under its current brand happened in 2018 following Opera's acquisition and the granting of key licenses. If you're new to the platform or using features like the Opay Business App, USSD codes, or agent services, understanding this history shows how established the platform truly is.

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