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MTN to award $5,000 prize to top startups in Nigeria, others in ‘PachiPanda Challenge’

Africa PachiPanda Challenge

Telecommunications group, MTN, has announced an innovation contest tagged ‘PachiPanda Challenge’ aimed at incubating youth-led SMEs that tackle current environmental challenges in Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

According to the company, the winning team (first prize) from each country will receive prizes valued at $5,000. They will also advance to the Africa PachiPanda contest where they compete in the final.

Aside from the financial reward, MTN Noted that the challenge, which was launched in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), provides a platform for young innovators to contribute to their communities and the wider continent by creating solutions that address environmental and social issues.

It added that the challenge also offers the opportunity to connect with a wide network of like-minded individuals, potential investors, and stakeholders, amplifying the visibility and impact of their projects.

Who can participate?

MTN said the Africa PachiPanda Challenge is an open call to young visionaries (aged 16 - 35) and youth-led SMEs that can conceptualize and develop pioneering solutions to environmental challenges specific to their country.

  • Participants can either be individuals or teams, each comprising up to three members.
  • The top ten finalist teams from each country will embark on a transformative 3-day sprint event, immersing themselves in a human-centered design process.
  • The event will culminate in a pitch session where teams present their ground-breaking solutions to a panel of industry experts.
  • Each stage of the challenge will be tailored to address the specific environmental concerns of each region, ensuring that the solutions developed are contextually relevant.
  • The triumphant teams from each country will then advance to the grand stage, competing against other national victors from other participating countries in the Africa PachiPanda contest.
  • Qualified and interested startups can apply

Commenting on the initiative, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Tobe Okigbo, said:

“Nigeria is brimming with young talent eager to make a difference. The Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a golden opportunity for these bright minds to channel their creativity into tangible solutions that can reshape our environmental landscape for the better.”

More insights

The PachiPanda Challenge is building on the success of the inaugural challenge in Zambia in 2022 and 2023, which showcased promising solutions, including Isaac Mwanza’s EcoBuild, a startup that produces sustainable construction materials from copper waste.

This addresses waste while providing a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional building materials.

Other finalists presented equally compelling ventures, including community recycling programmes and inventive ways to generate renewable energy from waste.

MTN said it is building on the success in Zambia, by expanding the PachiPanda Challenge across the continent, adding South Africa and Nigeria to the program.

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