(DDM) – MTN Nigeria has officially announced the winners of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, a national innovation competition aimed at promoting sustainable solutions among young innovators.
DDM gathered that the initiative was delivered in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria.
The competition drew over 2,000 applications from across Nigeria and concluded with a three-day sprint event at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, featuring masterclasses and pitch presentations.
Ten finalists, including seven individuals and three teams, emerged after a rigorous multi-stage screening process to compete for top honours.
Team OneGrid Energies emerged as the overall winner for its innovative solution addressing energy access in underserved communities.
The team, comprising Emmanuel Ezea, Ogochukwu Ogene, and Valentine Nnamani, developed affordable lanterns by upcycling plastic bottles and e-waste lithium-ion batteries.
They also introduced smart solar-powered charging stations managed by rural women, creating economic opportunities while advancing environmental sustainability.
Second place went to Joshua Ndaman for his project, BuyScrap, a technology-driven platform that streamlines electronic waste collection and recycling.
BuyScrap ensures that discarded electronics are ethically reused and repurposed, fostering a circular economy and connecting households with processing facilities.
Divine Peter secured third place with HopeForge Engineering, which designs affordable recycling equipment for green businesses using recyclable materials.
His initiative automates traditional manual processes, improving productivity and making sustainable tools accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The winners received cash prizes of ₦3,000,000, ₦2,000,000, and ₦1,500,000 respectively and will now represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Challenge.
The continental finals will see these innovators compete against champions from other African countries, showcasing their solutions to industry experts and investors.
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, emphasized the importance of youth-led innovation in climate action and community resilience.
He stated, “Innovation should go beyond solving problems; it should be bankable and sustainable, ensuring long-term value for both society and the innovators themselves.”
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of NCF, praised the finalists’ creativity, asserting that “every finalist here is a winner,” and reaffirmed continued support for nurturing innovative ideas.
Representing UNDP Nigeria, Lantana Elhassan highlighted the potential of the projects to inspire systemic change across Africa, noting the role of technology in scaling solutions.
During the week-long event, finalists participated in masterclass sessions led by experts including Bankole Oloruntoba of NCIC, Chinwe Udo-Davis of Instollar, Nifemi Oluboyede of Credit Direct, and Uche Aniche of Rebel Seed Capital.
Judges comprised sustainability and innovation experts such as Dr. Tiwalade Adeniyi, Dr. William Tsuma, Maximus Ugwuoke, Peju Ibekwe, Temitope Okunnu, and Yewande Adeyi.
DDM reports that the Africa-wide finals are expected to bring together leading innovators to showcase solutions, attract investment, and influence the continent’s innovation landscape.
This edition of PachiPanda underscores Nigeria’s growing role in fostering sustainable innovation and youth empowerment across key sectors.
The competition reflects a strategic push to integrate environmental consciousness with technology-driven entrepreneurship in Nigeria and beyond.