Deadline: August 28, 2026
Applications for the PachiPanda Challenge – Nigeria 2026 are now open. MTN Nigeria Communications Plc in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through its local partner, the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria have launched the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, an innovation challenge designed to provide young people and youth-led SMEs the opportunity to develop innovative, long-term solutions and ideas to pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainability in Nigeria.
Challenge Statements
- Climate Change [Solutions focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gases]: Human activities emit greenhouse gases – mainly carbon dioxide and methane, which are the major drivers of climate change. The effects of climate change include, among others, severe drought, water scarcity, rising sea levels, flooding and biodiversity loss.
- How can you inspire innovative solutions in Nigeria’s homes and businesses to reduce emissions, fight climate change and build resilience?
- Climate Smart Cities and Urban Resilience [Solutions focusing on building cities that can adapt, recover and thrive]: Cities are expected to account for two-thirds of the projected growth of the world’s population by 2050, with most of the remaining one-third of growth concentrated in towns. Nigeria’s urban population is also projected to rise by 70%, increasing pressure on housing, transportation, energy, water, and public infrastructure. Climate impacts such as flooding, extreme heat, erosion, and poor air quality are already affecting urban communities, particularly vulnerable populations. The cities of the future must not only grow but also adapt.
- How can you design innovative solutions that help Nigerian cities become more climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable in the face of increasing environmental pressures? Prioritising areas such as industrial waste management, flood prediction and response systems, green infrastructure, sustainable transport, smart energy management, climate-resilient housing, urban food systems and sustainable agriculture, community adaptation solutions, and strengthening (inclusive) safeguards against risks, and solutions leveraging AI and frontier tech, enabling local production, integrating soft and hardware innovation with potential to create green jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
- Community Conservation [Solutions focusing on biodiversity protection and community-led conservation efforts for improved livelihood]: Conservation is most powerful when it is people-driven, designed to improve livelihood and well-being. Across Nigeria, local communities live closest to nature and hold traditional knowledge and practices that can protect ecosystems. Yet, these same communities often face poverty, limited infrastructure, and restricted access to education or resources, factors that can lead to unsustainable environmental practices.
- How can you co-create a future in which communities are empowered to lead conservation efforts and drive change through communal wisdom, innovation, and stewardship?
- Pollution [Solutions focusing on improved waste management]: Our activities generate large amounts of waste, with dump sites a common sight in our cities, towns and villages. Despite best efforts at waste management, waste still constitutes significant pollution threats across Nigeria with attendant health and environmental risks.
- How can you innovatively transform waste management in Nigeria to reduce pollution, address health and environmental hazards and build sustainability? You can share solutions for business or industrial sectors, behavioural, artistic and tech solutions.
Prizes
- First Position – ₦5,000,000
- Second Position – ₦ 3,000,000
- Third Position – ₦ 2,000,000
The winners will represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Finale in South Africa, along with winners from other countries.
Eligibility
- Open to individuals or teams residing in Nigeria.
- Participants should be between 18 and 35.
- You may participate as an individual or form a team of a maximum of three members.
- Young entrepreneurs or youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate, with a maximum of three members.
- All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
- Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
- MTN Nigeria, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
Application
To submit an entry to any of the challenge statements, answer the following questions:
- Briefly describe your innovative idea or solution (Maximum of 200 words)
- What makes your idea or solution outstanding and deserving of selection? (Maximum of 200 words)
- How would your idea or solution impact people at the community, national and international levels? (Maximum 200 words)
- Provide a detailed description of your innovative idea or solution, including evidence or proof of concept (Maximum of 2000 words)
For more information, visit PachiPanda Challenge.
