By Izuchukwu Mayor, Lagos
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, has launched the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
This initiative is part of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge, designed to stimulate and champion innovative solutions that address urgent environmental challenges across the continent.
This year’s broad theme is: Nourishing tomorrow: Innovations for Food, Energy, and Water Security.
The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is an open call to young eco-visionaries (aged 18-35) and youth-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to conceptualise and develop pioneering solutions that tackle critical sustainability issues, with a focus on specific environmental challenges unique to Nigeria.
Participants can either apply as an individual or a team comprising a maximum of three members the promoters said in a joint statement.
According to the statement, the top 10 finalists will embark on a transformative 3-day sprint event, immersing themselves in a human-centred design process.
The finalists from the challenge will then advance to the grand stage, competing against other national victors in the Africa PachiPanda contest, it added.
Additionally, the event will culminate in a pitch session where participants present their eco-friendly and innovative solutions to a distinguished panel of industry experts.
Specially curated masterclass sessions will also be provided to the top ten finalists during the event week to help sharpen their business acumen, enhance their presentation skills, and refine their solutions for greater impact on the continental stage.
Youths, including undergraduates, young entrepreneurs, and youth-led SMEs from Nigeria, are therefore invited to enter their innovative ideas or solutions to the challenge statements on “Pollution”, “Climate Change”, and “Community Conservation.”
The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a green opportunity for these bright minds to channel their creativity into tangible solutions that can empower our nation and reshape our environmental landscape for the better.
Making a difference
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobe Okigbo, was quoted as saying: “Nigeria is brimming with young talents eager to make a difference.
“The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a green opportunity for these bright minds to channel their creativity into tangible solutions that can empower our nation and reshape our environmental landscape for the better.”
Echoing these sentiments, Director-General, NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, added: “Collaboration is the cornerstone of impactful change. By joining forces with MTN, we aim to amplify the voices of our youth, turning their innovative ideas into actionable solutions that can safeguard our planet for future generations.”
On their collaboration, Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Nigeria, Dr William Tsuma, said: “Innovation for development is at the core of what we do. And we’re glad to be part of this challenge, empowering young minds to co-create solutions that address real-world problems, drive inclusive growth, and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.”
More than a competition, the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a movement that galvanises participants to think unconventionally, craft solutions that address local environmental challenges, and play an active role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of their communities.
