…As 2025 PachiPanda challenge kicks off
The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), is challenging young Nigerians to come up with innovative ideas capable of fostering environmental sustenance.
This was disclosed during the recent launch of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, an environmental campaign that seeks to galvanise 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.
Themed, ‘Nourishing tomorrow: Innovations for food, energy, and water security,’ this year’s Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge invites youth, undergraduates, young entrepreneurs, and youth-led SMEs from in the country to enter their innovative ideas or solutions to the challenge statements on pollution, climate change, and community conservation.
The campaign is being initiated in collaboration with MTN Nigeria, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, as part of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge, designed to stimulate and champion innovative solutions that address urgent environmental challenges across the continent.
“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,” Joseph Onoja, director-general, NCF, stated during the launch.
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.
The challenge will culminate in a pitch session where participants present their eco-friendly and innovative solutions to a panel of industry experts. The finalists from the challenge will then advance to the grand stage, competing against other national winners in the Africa PachiPanda contest.
“Nigeria is brimming with young talents eager to make a difference. 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,” Tobe Okigbo, chief corporate services and sustainability officer, MTN Nigeria, stated.
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.
“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,” William Tsuma, chief innovation officer, UNDP Nigeria, stated.
