Lagos: MTN Nigeria, in partnership with the WorldWide Fund through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, has unveiled the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge 2025. The initiative aims to empower young people to promote environmental sustainability.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the challenge is designed to provide young individuals with the opportunity to develop innovative, long-term solutions to pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainability in Nigeria. This initiative is part of the larger Africa PachiPanda Challenge, which seeks to champion innovative solutions to urgent environmental issues across the continent.
Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and Managing Consultant Expert at ResourcePRO Ltd., emphasized the initiative’s goal of empowering African youth and youth-led SMEs. Udo-Davis highlighted the importance of providing clear value to customers, noting that differentiation in products or services is crucial for remaining competitive. She stressed that customers are willing to pay for products that deliver clear benefits, whether through superior quality, reliability, pricing, or exceptional customer service.
Udo-Davis also underscored the critical role of storytelling and effective communication for entrepreneurs, particularly when pitching to investors or participating in accelerator programmes. She shared her own experience of overcoming public speaking fears at a pan-African pitch event in Nairobi, which resulted in her team winning a significant grant.
Mr. Harold Okonoboh, President of the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), encouraged participants to explore opportunities in the recycling sector. He advised them to start as middlemen to gain a clear understanding of the recycling value chain before making major investments. Okonoboh highlighted the fragmented nature of Nigeria’s recycling ecosystem and suggested that this offers room for innovation, especially in adopting digital technology and local fabrication of recycling machinery.
Okonoboh also emphasized the importance of understanding regulatory frameworks to avoid investments in restricted areas. He assured participants of ongoing support and guidance from RAN in navigating the recycling value chain.