OPAY entered the African market in the year 2018 with Nigeria as the first target. After it gained tractions in the country with significant funding, the fintech expanded it operations to other part of the continent. However, in 2017, OPAY was established in Kenya. At that time, James Yahui Zhou, the current owner of OPAY, is already in talk with Telnet to acquire PAYCOM - the company that was transformed to OPAY.
During the move to acquire PAYCOM in Nigeria, Opera Group introduced OPAY in Kenya probably to test the African market. In 2018, the Opera Group completed the acquisition of controlling stake in Paycom Nigeria Limited. The Opera Group was founded by James Zhou Yahui. Read this article to learn more about the History of OPAY.
In this article, we will highlight the list of countries OPAY is currently operating in as a financial provider within Africa and beyond the continent. Hence and without further ado, let's get into the list of the countries using OPAY.
List of African Countries using OPay
Here's the list of countries currently using OPAY in Africa:
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Egypt
- Rwanda
- Ghana
- South Africa
- Uganda
- Tanzania
OPay was approved by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to issue prepaid cards in 2021. The fintech was established in 2013 as PayCom and licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018 as OPay.
List of Asian, American, Countries using OPAY
Here's the list of countries currently using OPAY in Asia and America:
- Mexico
- China
- Pakistan
Conclusion
OPay is a fintech company focused on Africa, founded in 2018. In August 2021, it raised $400 million in funding, led by SoftBank, valuing the company at $2 billion. Several major Chinese investors are also interested in OPay. In a nutshell, the finance technology company is currently working in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Mexico, Egypt, Pakistan, China, Rwanda, and South Africa.
FAQs
How many countries is OPay available in?
As of 2024, OPay is currently available in 11 countries.
Can OPay be used internationally?
OPay can be used internationally in 11 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Mexico, Egypt, Pakistan, China, Rwanda, and South Africa. The availability of services may vary by country. Additionally, through IMT partner - World Remit, you can now receive money from the United States, the United Kingdom, and 50 other countries directly into your OPay wallet, making it a fast, convenient, and affordable way to receive money from abroad.
Which country owns OPay?
OPay is owned by Opera Limited, a company based in Norway. However, it has significant backing from Chinese investors and was originally founded by the Telnet Nigeria Limited before it's acquired by Opera Group and rebranded to OPAY to became an independent entity.
Can OPay receive money from other countries?
OPay is not an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) like WorldRemit. So it cannot directly be used to receive money from other countries even if it's one of the countries that the fintech app is currently working in.
Can OPay receive money from Pakistan?
OPay cannot directly receive money from Pakistan to Nigeria. The only way to send money from Pakistan to Nigeria using OPay is by sending the Pakistani Rupee through WorldRemit. WorldRemit will convert the foreign currency in equivalent to Naira at the current market rate and credit your OPay Account.
