MTN Nigeria, WWF/NCF and UNDP Kick Off 2025 PachiPanda Challenge

… fostering local innovation to sustain tomorrow.

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.

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 top ten finalists will embark on a transformative 3-day sprint event, immersing themselves in a human-centred design process.

The event will culminate in a pitch session where participants present their eco-friendly and innovative solutions to a distinguished panel of industry experts. The finalists from the challenge will then advance to the grand stage, competing against other national victors in the Africa PachiPanda contest. 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.

“Nigeria is brimming with young talents eager to make a difference,” expressed Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria. “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, Dr Joseph Onoja, Director-General, NCF, 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, Dr William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Nigeria, added, “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.

This year’s broad theme is Nourishing tomorrow: Innovations for Food, Energy, and Water Security. The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge invites youths, undergraduates, young entrepreneurs, and youth-led SMEs from Nigeria to enter their innovative ideas or solutions to the challenge statements on “Pollution”, “Climate Change”, and “Community Conservation.”

For more details and to embark on this exciting journey, interested participants can visit http://www.mtn.com/pachipanda-challenge/to apply. Applications close on 3rd October 2025.

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 sustainability.ng@mtn.com.