MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, in partnership 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 announced the top 10 finalists and the panel of judges for the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a platform dedicated to developing home-grown solutions for the nation’s most pressing environmental issues, including climate change, pollution, community conservation and environmental sustainability.
The challenge received over 2,169 applications nationwide, which were streamlined into a top 100 shortlist through a rigorous multi-stage screening and evaluation process by a panel of 20 assessors drawn from diverse disciplines and industries, convened by the organisers.
Following a further detailed evaluation of the top 100 shortlists, the organising committee (MTN Nigeria, NCF and UNDP) have now revealed the list of the top 10 finalists who will proceed to a 3-day sprint pitch event and masterclass, scheduled to take place in Lagos at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, from November 24 to 26, 2025.
During the event week, the finalists will participate in specially curated masterclass sessions designed to sharpen their business acumen, enhance their presentation skills, and refine their solutions for greater impact on the continental stage.
The winners from the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge will then progress to the Africa PachiPanda Contest, where they will compete against other national champions from across the continent.
This year, the top finalists include seven individuals, and three teams will pitch their innovative ideas and solutions across pollution, climate change, or community conservation thematic areas to the panel of judges.
The judges, comprising industry experts and professionals from diverse sectors, will evaluate each pitch using a comprehensive set of criteria: innovativeness, feasibility and practicability, potential impact, sustainability, and presentation and communication.
This structured evaluation process is designed to identify the most promising ideas and solutions with the potential to transform environmental landscapes in Nigeria and across Africa. The top three solutions will be selected during the pitch event.
The Nigeria PachiPanda programme spearheads MTN Nigeria’s commitment to protecting our planet through eco-entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability. By cultivating a pipeline of innovators and eco-enterprises, we are empowering youths and youth-led SMEs to develop solutions that tackle local environmental challenges and advance sustainability across the continent.
The top 10 finalists for the 2025 Nigerian PachiPanda Challenge are:
Adesanya Ernestina Dolapo (Abuja, FCT) – Pollution
Divine Agocho Peter (Lagos State) – Pollution
Glory Chimeremumma Njoku (Imo State) – Pollution
Ndaman Joshua Olayinka (Lagos State) – Pollution
Osayande Agbo (Edo State) – Pollution
Safiya Haruna Idris (Borno State) – Community Conservation
Team Astute Impact (Endurance Martin Martin, Precious Sunday Bassey, Blessed Sunday Bassey): Akwa Ibom State – Climate Change
Team Green (Emmanuel Aanu Ajayi, Mary Ifeoluwa Aderibigbe, Abdulbasit Salahudeen): Kwara State – Climate Change
Team OneGrid Energies (Emmanuel Chinecherem Ezea, Ogochukwu Precious Ogene, Valentine Kaosisochukwu Nnamani): Anambra State – Pollution
Zainab Abike Kadiri-Lawal (Lagos State) – Pollution
For more on how MTN is Doing for tomorrow, today, please visit https://www.mtn.ng/sustainability/, follow MTN Nigeria’s social media channels, or contact the Sustainability and Shared Value Team at [email protected].
