Team OneGrid Energies will be representing Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Challenge after emerging overall winner of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge for its solution that addresses energy access in underserved communities.
The PachiPanda Challenge is a national innovation programme organised by MTN Nigeria in partnership with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria.
The Africa-wide finals of the challenge will bring together leading innovators from across the continent to showcase their work to industry experts and investors in the first quarter of 2026.
OneGrid Energies team of Emmanuel Ezea, Ogochukwu Ogene, and Valentine Nnamani upcycle plastic bottles and e-waste lithium batteries to create affordable lanterns for households without access to reliable electricity.
The team also introduced smart solar-powered charging stations operated by rural women, creating economic opportunities and supporting environmental impact.
“Innovation should go beyond solving problems; it should be bankable and sustainable, ensuring long-term value for both society and the innovators themselves,” said Tobe Okigbo, chief corporate services and sustainability officer, MTN Nigeria, emphasising the importance of youth-led innovation in advancing climate action and community resilience.
Joseph Onoja, director-general, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), said the Foundation will work with the finalists and commended the creativity of the innovators. “Every finalist here is a winner, and we will continue to work with partners like MTN, UNDP, and WWF to nurture these ideas and build a better future for Nigeria.”
Lantana Elhassan, head, exploration, Accelerator Lab, representing UNDP Nigeria, described the potential of the finalists’ solutions to inspire systemic change across Africa’s innovation landscape. She highlighted the role of tech tools in helping participants improve their prototypes and scale their solutions.
The challenge attracted over 2000 applications from young innovators across Nigeria and concluded with a 3-day sprint competition that featured masterclasses and pitch presentations at the MTN Rooftop event centre, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Ten finalists, comprising seven individuals and three teams, competed for top honours following a multi-stage screening process. The winners received ₦3 million, ₦2 million, and ₦1.5 million respectively, and will represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Challenge where they will compete against champions from across the continent.
Joshua Ndaman secured second place with his innovative solution, BuyScrap, a tech-driven platform that streamlines the collection and recycling of electronic waste. By ensuring that discarded electronics are ethically reused and repurposed, BuyScrap supports a circular economy and provides a reliable link between households and processors in the e-waste value chain.
Divine Peter secured third place with HopeForge Engineering, an initiative that designs and produces affordable recycling equipment for green businesses using recyclable materials. His focus on automating traditional manual equipment aims to increase productivity and make sustainable tools more accessible for small and medium-sized enterpriOlayinkases.
