Nigeria’s growing start-up ecosystem is set to take a bold step toward sustainability as MTN Nigeria, in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launches the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
Part of the continental Africa PachiPanda Challenge, the initiative is designed to spark transformative solutions to some of Nigeria’s most pressing environmental challenges while spotlighting the power of youth-led entrepreneurship.
A Call for Eco-Visionaries and Green Entrepreneurs
The challenge invites Nigerian youth (18–35) and youth-led SMEs to develop bold, practical innovations around three urgent themes: Pollution, Climate Change, and Community Conservation. This year’s broader focus — Nourishing Tomorrow: Innovations for Food, Energy, and Water Security — reflects the growing demand for integrated, future-ready solutions.
Participants can apply individually or in teams of up to three. The top ten finalists will take part in a 3-day design sprint, combining human-centred design methods, mentorship, and specialized masterclasses to sharpen both their solutions and their entrepreneurial skills.
From Ideas to Actionable Impact
Finalists will pitch their innovations before a panel of sustainability experts, investors, and industry leaders. Winners will progress to the continental Africa PachiPanda stage, where they will compete with peers across the continent, opening doors to new partnerships and scaling opportunities.
Beyond competition, the programme equips young entrepreneurs with the tools to build viable, investment-ready ventures capable of reshaping Nigeria’s environmental and economic future.
Voices from the Partners
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, emphasized the opportunity for Nigeria’s youth to drive systemic change:
“This challenge is a green opportunity for young talents to transform creativity into tangible solutions that empower our nation and redefine our environmental future.”
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of the NCF, underscored the importance of collaboration:
“By joining forces with MTN, we can amplify youth voices and turn their ideas into real-world interventions that safeguard our communities and ecosystems.”
Similarly, Dr. William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer at UNDP Nigeria, highlighted the developmental potential:
“Innovation for development is at the core of what we do. This challenge empowers young minds to co-create solutions that not only tackle environmental threats but also accelerate inclusive growth and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
A Movement Beyond Competition
While framed as a contest, the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is also a movement of green entrepreneurship — encouraging young Nigerians to think beyond conventional limits, create solutions rooted in local realities, and actively shape a more sustainable and resilient future.
