By Ayomide Otitoju
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 to promote innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
The initiative, which forms part of MTN’s annual Africa PachiPanda Challenge, is designed to support climate entrepreneurship and accelerate the growth of Africa’s green economy in line with the company’s Ambition 2030 sustainability strategy.
The 2026 edition, themed “Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa’s Green Economy,” invites young innovators, entrepreneurs and SME founders between the ages of 18 and 35 to develop practical solutions addressing Nigeria’s environmental challenges.
Participants are expected to submit ideas under one of four focus areas: Climate Change, Climate-Smart Cities and Urban Resilience, Community Conservation, and Pollution.
Applications are open to individuals as well as teams of up to three members. Ten finalists will be selected to attend a four-day boot camp and pitch event in Lagos, where they will receive mentorship in human-centred design, business development and presentation skills to strengthen their innovations.
The competition will conclude with a final pitch before a panel of industry experts. The top three winners will share a ₦10 million prize pool, with the first-place winner receiving ₦5 million, second place ₦3 million, and third place ₦2 million. Winners will also gain access to mentorship, industry networks and business support to help scale their innovations.
In addition, Nigeria’s overall winner will represent the country at the Africa PachiPanda Finale, competing against national champions from across the continent.
Speaking at the launch, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo, said the challenge reflects the company’s commitment to combining environmental responsibility with economic development.
He noted that the initiative offers young innovators an opportunity to create practical solutions to local environmental issues while promoting youth entrepreneurship and long-term sustainability.
Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr Joseph Onoja, said empowering young people with the right tools and opportunities would enable them to drive environmental conservation and secure a sustainable future.
Also speaking, Dr William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer at UNDP Nigeria, described innovation as a key driver of inclusive development, adding that the challenge would help young innovators develop solutions capable of addressing real societal problems.
Chief Growth Officer of Deloitte West Africa, Bernard Orji, said the partnership would provide participants with the guidance needed to refine their ideas, strengthen their commercial viability and build scalable businesses.
Applications for the 2026 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge opened on 29 July 2026 and will close on 28 August 2026. The boot camp and final pitch event are scheduled to take place from 19 to 22 October 2026 in Lagos
