By Ayomide Otitoju
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 announced the shortlist of 100 young innovators for the second phase of the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge. The initiative aims to foster home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s most urgent environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, community conservation, and sustainability.
The shortlisted candidates emerged from a pool of 2,169 applications received nationwide after a rigorous multi-stage screening and evaluation process. A team of 20 expert assessors conducted the review based on a robust and transparent framework designed to ensure fairness, equity, and consistency. This process enabled the panel to objectively identify the most promising and impactful submissions.
The selection underscores MTN Nigeria’s commitment to empowering young change-makers driving environmental resilience through innovation. Launched in 2024 to accelerate digital transformation and sustainability, the PachiPanda Challenge provides participants with world-class mentorship, technical workshops, seed funding, and access to an extensive network of industry leaders. The selected innovators represent diverse high-impact sectors, each addressing critical environmental issues within Nigeria and across Africa.
Following the announcement of the Top 100, a further evaluation will determine the final 10 finalists who will compete in a three-day sprint pitch event and masterclass scheduled for November 2025 in Lagos. The finalists will undergo intensive training sessions focused on business strategy, presentation skills, and impact-driven innovation. Winners from the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge will advance to the continental stage to compete in the Africa PachiPanda Contest.
MTN Nigeria described the initiative as a key pillar of its commitment to eco-entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability. Through the programme, the company seeks to build a strong pipeline of African green enterprises and empower youth-led startups to develop innovative solutions for local and continental environmental challenges.
