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 2026 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
The initiative, which is in its third edition, is designed to support young innovators and entrepreneurs in developing practical solutions to environmental challenges while contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s green economy.
The 2026 edition is themed ‘Nature meets innovation: unlocking Africa’s green economy’ and is open to young innovators, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprise founders between the ages of 18 and 35.
Participants are expected to develop solutions addressing environmental challenges in Nigeria across four key areas: climate change, climate-smart cities and urban resilience, community conservation, and pollution.
According to the organisers, the challenge is aimed at providing young Nigerians with a platform to turn innovative ideas into practical, scalable solutions that can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Applications are open to individuals and teams of up to three members. Ten finalists will be selected to participate in a four-day boot camp and pitch event in Lagos.
The finalists will undergo a human-centred design process designed to strengthen their business skills, improve their presentation abilities and refine their solutions for greater impact.
The programme will end with a final pitch before a panel of industry experts, with the top three winners sharing a ?10 million prize pool. The first-place winner will receive ?5 million, while the second and third-place winners will receive ?3 million and ?2 million respectively.
The winners will also gain access to industry experts, support platforms and networks to help scale their innovations. Nigeria’s winners will further represent the country at the Africa PachiPanda Finale, where they will compete against national champions from other African countries.
Speaking on the initiative, Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, said the programme reflects the need to combine environmental responsibility with economic development.
‘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 develop solutions to local environmental problems while strengthening youth entrepreneurship and supporting long-term sustainability.
‘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.
Also speaking, Dr Joseph Onoja, Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, said young people should be at the centre of efforts to develop innovative solutions for environmental challenges.
‘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,’ Onoja said.
Dr William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Nigeria, said the initiative would encourage young innovators to develop solutions to real-world challenges.
‘Innovation for development is at the heart of what we do. When young innovators co-create solutions to real problems, they drive inclusive growth and push us closer to a sustainable society for all,’ he said.
Deloitte West Africa’s Chief Growth Officer, Bernard Orji, said the organisation would support participants in developing their ideas into viable ventures.
‘Great ideas need sharpening to succeed. Through our collaboration, we will help these young innovators pressure-test their thinking, build commercial confidence, and turn promising concepts into ventures that can scale and last,’ Orji said.
Applications for the 2026 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge opened on July 29 and will close on August 28, 2026.
The boot camp and pitch event are scheduled to hold in Lagos from October 19 to 22, 2026.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by MTN Nigeria and its partners to promote youth innovation, environmental sustainability and the development of solutions capable of supporting Nigeria’s transition towards a greener economy.