Cameroon’s Innovation Leaders Celebrate Back-to-Back Success at the Africa PachiPanda Challenge
- Open Dreams
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 23
It was a truly heroic reception at the Open Dreams Center in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Saturday, February 21st, 2026, as the champions of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge, the continent’s premier innovation competition, returned to Cameroon with historic honors. After a thrilling pan-African finale in Johannesburg, South Africa, the brilliant innovators stood proud as African Champions, securing 1st and 3rd place finishes among a fierce field of competitors from across the continent.
This remarkable achievement echoes Cameroon’s triumph last year, when local teams (Moses Afopezi of AgricFresh & Seka Jean-Blaise of DeWise Cool) also clinched both the top and third positions at the finals.
Njita Arnaud of NervTek Buea was crowned continental champion with their breakthrough project: the nTron STEM Kit. This innovative solution transforms plastic waste into 3D-printing filament, which is then used to manufacture hands-on STEM learning kits, a powerful tool for enhancing science, technology, engineering, and math education across Africa. “Winning at the continental level proves that African students can build world-class technology from local problems. The nTron STEM Kit is about access — giving young people the tools to learn by building.” — Njita Arnaud, NervTek
Bill Agha of the TiC Foundation and Open Dreams
Bill secured an outstanding third place with AgriCheck, a climate-smart digital agriculture platform that provides farmers with actionable data to optimize farming inputs and improve productivity. His solution spotlights the pivotal role of technology in strengthening food systems under climate stress. “AgriCheck was built for farmers who need practical decisions, not complex data. This recognition shows that climate-smart agriculture can start with simple, accessible tools.” — Bill Agha, AgriCheck, President, TiC Foundation, OD RPC
Embom Jemima, A national finalist and a proud ambassador of Cameroonian innovation, Embom represented Cameroon with distinction, sharing insights on her journey and contributing to the team’s vibrant narrative of creativity and resilience. “Representing Cameroon on a continental stage is an honor. This journey shows that young innovators can lead Africa’s transformation.” — Embom Jemima, National Finalist
The Champions, overflowing with joy as they touch down in Cameroon In Johannesburg, the competition drew thousands of entries from across Africa, making the final stage a showcase of cutting-edge ideas tackling the continent’s most pressing environmental challenges, from waste management and water security to climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy.
Back home at the Open Dreams Center in Yaoundé, Bill, Arnaud, and Embom delivered a passionate presentation outlining how their projects evolved, the challenges they overcame, and their vision for scaling impact across communities. Their stories exemplify a new generation of African innovators who are not only imagining solutions - they are building them. The triumphant return was met with an atmosphere of pride and celebration, as the MTN Cameroon Team, supporters, young innovators, and the Minister of Post and Telecommunications (MINPOSTEL), Minette Libom Li Likeng have been honoring these trailblazers. Their success not only highlights individual excellence but also reflects the growth and promise of a dynamic tech ecosystem rooted in Africa’s youth.
The Delegation from MTN Cameroon to MINPOSTEL led by Melvin Akam, General Manager of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs at MTN Cameroon
Cameroon’s back-to-back wins at the PachiPanda Challenge demonstrate the power of sustained innovation and local ingenuity on the continental stage.
Supported by partners such as MTN Group and WWF, the competition is a springboard that provides mentorship, funding, and invaluable exposure to help young entrepreneurs turn ideas into solutions with real-world impact.
As these champions continue to refine and scale their projects, their achievements inspire a new wave of innovators, reinforcing the message that Africa’s biggest challenges can be solved by African creativity, passion, and determination.
Continental Challenge with representatives from different African Countries The Africa PachiPanda Challenge is a continent-wide innovation platform supported by MTN Group and WWF, spotlighting youth-led solutions to environmental and development challenges across Africa.
A report on the activities of the day by Cynthia Takang With consecutive top-tier finishes, Cameroon continues to emerge as a continental hub for youth-driven innovation and impact.
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