- MTN and WWF launched the 2026 PachiPanda Challenge, inviting Nigerian youth aged 18–35 to submit waste management and sustainability solutions
- The Nigeria competition offers cash prizes totalling ₦10 million, alongside mentorship, investor exposure, and business development support
- Applications opened July 29 and close August 28, 2026, with winners set to represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Finale in South Africa
Pascal Oparada is a journalist with Legit.ng, covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.
Young Nigerian entrepreneurs with ideas for tackling waste and pollution have a major opportunity to turn their innovations into impact, as MTN opens applications for the 2026 Africa PachiPanda Challenge.
The competition, organised by MTN in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and supported by country-level partners, is designed to identify and support young Africans developing practical solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges.
Credit: Novatis
Source: UGC
In Nigeria, the challenge offers a combined ₦10 million in prize money to the top three winners, alongside mentorship, business development support and opportunities to connect with investors and industry stakeholders.
Winners to share ₦10 million
The Nigerian competition will reward three outstanding solutions.
The first-place winner will receive ₦5 million, while the second-place winner will take home ₦3 million. The third-place winner will receive ₦2 million.
Beyond the cash prizes, the winners will receive opportunities to strengthen their ventures, showcase their innovations and gain exposure within Nigeria’s growing sustainability ecosystem.
The Nigerian winners will also represent the country at the Africa PachiPanda Finale in South Africa, allowing them to present their solutions on a broader continental stage.
Who can apply?
The competition is open to Nigerians aged 18 to 35 who are entrepreneurs, innovators or founders of youth-led small and medium-sized businesses.
Applicants must reside in Nigeria and can apply individually or as teams of up to three people.
Their ideas can be at the early or concept stage, provided they address an environmental challenge and demonstrate potential for meaningful impact.
Employees of MTN Nigeria, the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, UNDP Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria, as well as their immediate family members, are excluded from participating, according to a report by MSME Africa.
Waste management takes centre stage
For the 2026 Nigerian challenge, applicants are being asked to develop innovative ways to transform waste management in Nigeria.
The goal is to reduce pollution, tackle health and environmental hazards and promote more sustainable communities and businesses.
Techeconomy reported that solutions can involve technology, behavioural change, creative or artistic approaches, recycling, waste-management systems and other practical ideas capable of producing measurable environmental benefits.
What applicants must submit
Participants will be required to explain their ideas and demonstrate why their solutions deserve recognition.
The application includes a 200-word description of the idea, a 200-word explanation of why it stands out and another 200 words outlining its potential community, national and international impact.
Applicants must also provide a detailed description of their solution, including evidence or proof of concept, in a submission of up to 2,000 words.
The deadline is August 28
Applications opened on July 29, 2026, and will close on August 28, 2026.
Read also
FG targets 10 million Nigerian homes with cooking gas, promises free refills for thousands
The Top 100 will be announced on September 18, followed by the Top 25 on October 2 and Top 10 on October 9. The bootcamp and pitch event will be held from October 20 to 23, with the winners announced on October 23.
Credit: Novatis
Source: UGC
For young Nigerians building solutions around waste, recycling, pollution or sustainability, the PachiPanda Challenge offers more than prize money. It could provide the mentorship, visibility and connections needed to turn a promising idea into a scalable enterprise.
Applications are available through the official MTN PachiPanda Challenge platform.
MTN launches Netflix rival
Legit.ng earlier reported that MTN has stepped up its battle for Africa’s growing digital entertainment market with the launch of MTN One TV, a new streaming platform positioned to rival established services such as Netflix.
The launch comes as the pay-TV market undergoes major changes, with MultiChoice removing seven channels from its premium DStv package and consumers increasingly turning to flexible streaming options for entertainment.
Nine years after shutting down its VU streaming video platform, MTN has returned to the entertainment space with MTN One TV, promising a broader and more flexible digital viewing experience.
Source: Legit.ng