Applications are open for the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge 2026, an innovation competition supporting young Nigerians and youth-led businesses developing sustainable solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
The challenge is organised by MTN Nigeria Communications Plc in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) through the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, alongside UNDP Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria. It forms part of the broader Africa PachiPanda Challenge, MTN and WWF’s initiative to promote youth-led climate entrepreneurship and environmental innovation across participating African countries.
Programme Objectives
The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge aims to:
- Identify and incubate innovative environmental solutions developed by young people and youth-led SMEs.
- Increase youth participation in environmental sustainability and climate action in Nigeria.
- Strengthen participants’ understanding of environmental challenges and community-led solutions.
- Provide mentorship, business-development support and a platform for innovators to showcase and scale their ideas.
- Support practical solutions for climate adaptation, climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation and pollution reduction.
Challenge Areas
Applicants may submit innovative ideas or early-stage solutions addressing one of the following areas:
- Climate Change: Solutions that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and strengthen climate resilience.
- Climate-Smart Cities and Urban Resilience: Innovations in waste management, flood response, green infrastructure, sustainable transport, smart energy, climate-resilient housing and urban food systems.
- Community Conservation: Community-led solutions that protect biodiversity, ecosystems and livelihoods.
- Pollution: Innovative approaches to waste management, recycling, pollution reduction and environmental health.
Eligibility
The challenge is open to individuals and teams residing in Nigeria. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old and may apply individually or as a team of up to three members.
University and college students, young entrepreneurs and youth-led SMEs with idea-stage or early-stage solutions are eligible to participate.
Prizes and Benefits
Selected participants will receive incubation, mentorship and business-development support to strengthen their solutions.
The national winners will receive:
- First place: ₦5,000,000
- Second place: ₦3,000,000
- Third place: ₦2,000,000
The winners will also represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Finale in South Africa, where they will compete alongside winners from other participating countries.
Programme Timeline
- Applications open: 29 July 2026
- Application deadline: 28 August 2026
- Top 100 announcement: 18 September 2026
- Top 25 announcement: 2 October 2026
- Top 10 announcement: 9 October 2026
- Boot camp and pitch event: 20–23 October 2026
- Winners announced: 23 October 2026
Eligible applicants are encouraged to review the full rules and submit their applications through the official programme portal before the deadline.