BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE– From water shortages and climate uncertainty to waste and soil degradation, MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer Jerry Soko wants young innovators to see more than problems,he wants them to see possibilities.
“Look beyond what is. Imagine what can be,” said Soko during the launch of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge at Happy Valley Hotel.
Soko said the environmental and climate challenges facing communities should not only be viewed as obstacles, but as opportunities for young people to create innovative solutions, build businesses and contribute to a sustainable future.
He said farmers were facing increasing uncertainty from changing climates, communities were under pressure over water resources, while natural ecosystems required restoration and protection.
According to Soko, these challenges affect livelihoods, economic competitiveness and the sustainability of future generations, making innovation increasingly important.
He said MTN believed that the next breakthrough solution could already exist in the minds of young people and that the PachiPanda Challenge was intended to provide a platform for such ideas to emerge.
Soko encouraged young innovators to look around their communities and identify problems that had become normalised, before asking what solutions could be created.
The challenge focuses on four areas: reimagining food and farming, securing a water future, restoring nature, and turning waste and energy challenges into opportunities.
Soko said the initiative was more than a competition, describing it as a platform for discovering talent, building capacity and creating future entrepreneurs, employers and leaders.
He said selected innovators would receive mentorship, practical business skills, technical guidance and incubation support to help turn promising ideas into sustainable ventures.
The MTN CEO further encouraged young people passionate about agriculture, water conservation, environmental protection, renewable energy, recycling and green enterprise to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Do not underestimate the power of your ideas,” he said, urging young innovators not to wait for perfect conditions or assume that someone else would solve the problems facing their communities.
Soko said the ultimate goal was to see young people develop solutions that protect the environment, strengthen economies and create opportunities for generations to come.
“The future belongs to those who are willing to act now,” he said.
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