MTN Nigeria and its partners have unveiled the 2026 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, a youth-focused innovation programme designed to turn environmental ideas into practical solutions while opening new pathways for Africa’s green economy.
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), through its Nigerian partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), alongside the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Deloitte Nigeria.
This year’s challenge carries the theme, “Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa’s Green Economy,” and targets young innovators, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprise founders between 18 and 35 years.
Participants are expected to develop innovative responses to environmental problems affecting communities across Nigeria, with proposals falling under four key areas: climate change, climate-smart cities and urban resilience, community conservation, and pollution.
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobe Okigbo, said the initiative reflects the company’s belief that environmental protection must advance alongside economic opportunity.
“As a business deeply connected to the communities we serve, we recognise that environmental responsibility and economic development must go hand in hand,” Okigbo said.
He said the challenge would give young Nigerians an opportunity to address local environmental problems, build entrepreneurial capacity and develop solutions capable of creating lasting impact.
“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 added.
NCF Director-General, Dr Joseph Onoja, said placing young people at the centre of environmental innovation could help create a stronger generation of conservation leaders.
“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,” he said.
For UNDP Nigeria Chief Innovation Officer, Dr William Tsuma, the programme aligns with the organisation’s focus on using innovation to promote inclusive and 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,” Tsuma said.
Deloitte West Africa Chief Growth Officer, Bernard Orji, said the partnership would also help participants strengthen the commercial potential of their ideas.
“Great ideas need sharpening to succeed,” Orji said, explaining that Deloitte would help participants test their concepts, improve their business confidence and develop ventures with the potential to scale.
The challenge is open to individuals and teams of up to three members.
Ten finalists would be selected for a four-day boot camp and pitch event in Lagos, where they would participate in a human-centred design process focused on strengthening their business skills, presentation abilities and solutions.
The programme would culminate in a final pitch before a panel of industry experts.
The top three winners would share a N10 million prize pool, with:
First place: N5 million
Second place: N3 million
Third place: N2 million
Beyond the cash prizes, winners would receive access to industry experts, support platforms and networks designed to help them develop and scale their innovations.
The Nigerian champions would also represent the country at the Africa PachiPanda Finale, where they will compete against winners from other African countries.
Applications for the 2026 edition opened on July 29, 2026, and would close on August 28, 2026.
The programme is scheduled to hold from October 19 to 22, 2026, giving participants an opportunity to transform locally focused environmental ideas into solutions with broader economic and social impact.
The organisers are encouraging young Nigerians to see environmental challenges not only as problems requiring urgent attention, but also as opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth.
