Cameroon has once again emerged as the overall winner of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge, securing the top honour for the second consecutive year at the continental technology and innovation competition.
The grand finale, held in Johannesburg on February 10, 2026, brought together young innovators from across Africa, alongside representatives of governments, private sector leaders, and development partners. The event celebrated solutions that harness technology to tackle some of Africa’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Launched by the MTN Group in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Africa PachiPanda Challenge is a pan-African innovation program that supports young people aged 18 to 35. The initiative focuses on entrepreneurial and technological solutions linked to the food, energy, and water nexus, encouraging sustainable development across the continent.
The competition unfolded in two stages: national selections in participating countries, followed by a continental finale where shortlisted teams pitched their projects to a jury made up of experts in finance, sustainability, and innovation.
Cameroon clinched first place with the nTron STEM Kit, presented by innovator Arnaud Njita. The project stood out for its approach to transforming STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education by providing students with practical, accessible, and innovative learning tools.
The country also claimed third place through AgriCheck, a solution developed by Bill Agha. The project focuses on improving agricultural management, with the goal of boosting productivity and strengthening food security.
This year’s success mirrors Cameroon’s performance at the inaugural edition of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge, also held in Johannesburg, where Cameroonian teams similarly finished first and third. The back-to-back achievement highlights the growing strength and maturity of Cameroon’s green and technology-driven innovation ecosystem.
As part of their rewards, the laureates received prize money of 3 million FCFA for first place and 1.5 million FCFA for third place, alongside training and connectivity equipment awarded to all finalist teams. Winners will also benefit from strategic support to scale their solutions across Africa, leveraging MTN’s pan-African network, as well as increased visibility, mentorship, and access to potential investors.
Speaking on MTN Cameroon’s role in supporting young innovators, Melvin Akam, General Manager of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, said the results underscore the country’s creative potential. “At MTN Cameroon, we firmly believe in the power of youth and innovation to transform our communities. The exceptional performances recorded this year demonstrate the creativity, determination, and excellence of young Cameroonians. We are proud to support these talents who contribute directly to building a more sustainable and technologically advanced future,” he said.
MTN Cameroon and WWF Cameroon both hailed the outcome as a strong signal of what youth-led innovation can achieve. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting sustainability-driven initiatives and empowering young people to develop solutions that contribute to a greener and more resilient Africa.
With another strong showing on the continental stage, Cameroon has once again demonstrated that its young innovators are a driving force for sustainable development across Africa.
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