OPay Strengthens Security with Location Guard Feature

Mary Nnah

In a bid to further protect its customers’ funds, OPay, a leading fintech company, has unveiled its eighth security feature, Location Guard. This new feature allows users to set a specific location, and if their phone is used outside that location, it will be locked, requiring Face ID verification to unlock it.

The announcement was made on Friday, October 17th, at OPay’s office in Lagos, where the company also celebrated the winners of its 10-week security campaign, “My OPay Security Vote Challenge”, aimed to promote financial literacy and ensure users are better equipped to transact securely in the digital environment.

According to Elizabeth Wang, Chief Commercial Officer of OPay, the idea for Location Guard came from customers who wanted an added layer of security in case their phones were stolen or used outside their usual location.

“We listen to our customers to understand what else they need. During this campaign, we also launched another product called Location Guard. This idea came from customers who said, ‘I live in Lagos; if somebody steals my phone and takes it to Ibadan or PH, what can I do?’ Location is important,” Wang explained.

OPay’s commitment to security is evident in its existing seven security features, including Emergency Lock, Scam Alert, Night Guard, Large Transaction Shield, Double Confirmation, USSD Lock, and Subscription Control. These features have been designed to protect customers’ funds and prevent unauthorized transactions.

“Our mission is to make financial services more inclusive through technology. One of our core values is ‘always customers.’ I believe that for any customer, the top priority for any account is security. That’s why, at OPay, we invest a lot and will continue to do so in security products so we can protect our customers from any situation, any threat, and ensure the security of their funds,” Wang emphasised.

“My OPay Security Vote Challenge”, campaign, which ran across four social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), attracted a large number of participants.

The winners of the challenge were Oluwatoyin Adegoke on Facebook, Onyinye Ekeogu on Instagram, Greatness Ezeonwuka on X, and Charles Lhugba on TikTok, each receiving ₦1 million.

Film producer/actress, Funke Akindele and celebrity social media influencers, including Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi), Layi Wasabi and Chukwuebuka Emmanuel, aka BrainJotter, who championed the campaign on social media, attended the event.

Funke Akindele commended OPay for its innovation and swift action in developing the security features, noting that it is never easy to work hard only to lose one’s money. “Imagine the scam alerts, and you notice they flagged the account, will you continue? Imagine you want to send huge money, and they call you to confirm, is that not wonderful? Thank you for prioritizing the interests of Nigerians,” she said.

BrainJotter described the products as amazing features capable of providing security for customers’ funds. “Some people have lost their lives to scams. Thieves no longer steal phones because of the phone but because of the money, and some even use the stolen phones to obtain loans without the owner being aware,” he added.

Broda Shaggi emphasized that the campaign is more than just a promotional effort, stating, “This is not just a campaign. This is an awareness for everybody using OPay, because in Nigeria, security is a very big problem. With an app like OPay, it is very easy for you to safeguard your account.

OPay’s Enterprise Marketing Manager, Oluwaseun Imade, restated the company’s commitment to securing customers’ funds from fraudsters through innovation and technology. “The challenge was not just to reward participants but to create a safer digital environment for millions of Nigerians,” Imade emphasized.

As part of its efforts to educate customers on the importance of security, OPay has been sharing testimonials from participants who have benefited from its security features. One such participant, an animator named Godwin Aludo, shared his experience with the company. Business owner Golden Kanu and singer Wuyi Daniels also shared their stories.

With the introduction of Location Guard, OPay continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting its customers’ funds and promoting financial security in the digital age.