MTN Nigeria, in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria, has launched the third edition of the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
The initiative is designed to empower young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions to environmental challenges while advancing Nigeria’s green economy.
The programme forms part of MTN’s annual Africa PachiPanda Challenge, which supports climate entrepreneurship and sustainability under the company’s Ambition 2030 strategy.
This year’s edition is themed “Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa’s Green Economy.”
It invites young innovators, entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) founders between the ages of 18 and 35 to develop innovative solutions addressing Nigeria’s environmental challenges.
According to the organisers, entries are expected in four thematic areas: Climate Change, Climate-Smart Cities and Urban Resilience, Community Conservation, and Pollution.
The challenge seeks to encourage young Africans to transform innovative ideas into scalable solutions capable of promoting environmental sustainability and economic development.
Applications are open to individuals and teams of up to three members.
Ten finalists will be selected to participate in a four-day boot camp and pitch event in Lagos, where they will receive mentorship, business development support and training in human-centred design.
The finalists will refine their innovations before presenting them to a panel of industry experts.
The top three winners will share a ₦10 million prize pool, with the overall winner receiving ₦5 million, the first runner-up ₦3 million, and the second runner-up ₦2 million.
In addition to the cash prizes, winners will gain access to mentorship, industry networks and business support platforms to help scale their innovations.
The Nigerian champions will also represent the country at the Africa PachiPanda Finale, where they will compete with winners from other participating African countries.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, Mr Tobe Okigbo, said environmental sustainability and economic development must progress together.
“As a business deeply connected to the communities we serve, we recognise that environmental responsibility and economic development must go hand in hand.
“The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge provides an opportunity for young innovators to develop solutions that address local environmental challenges, strengthen youth entrepreneurship and contribute to long-term sustainability.
“We are excited to see how young people across the country will respond to this year’s theme and demonstrate that eco-innovation can be a powerful force for positive change,” he said.
Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr Joseph Onoja, said empowering young people remained essential to protecting the environment.
“Innovation works best when young people lead it. By backing the PachiPanda Challenge, we are handing the next generation the tools to protect nature and the confidence to act.
“Their ideas today will safeguard our planet for the generations that follow,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Innovation Officer at UNDP Nigeria, Dr William Tsuma, said innovation remained central to sustainable development.
“When young innovators co-create solutions to real problems, they drive inclusive growth and push us closer to a sustainable society for all. That is exactly what this challenge unlocks,” he said.
Chief Growth Officer, Deloitte West Africa, Mr Bernard Orji, said the partnership would help participants transform promising ideas into viable and scalable ventures.
“Great ideas need sharpening to succeed. Through our collaboration, we will help these young innovators pressure-test their thinking, build commercial confidence, and turn promising concepts into ventures that can scale and last,” he said.
Applications for the challenge open on July 29 and close on Aug. 28, while the boot camp and final pitch event will hold from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, 2026.
The organisers said the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote youth entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability and innovation-driven economic growth across Nigeria.
