More than 2,500 athletes from 155 secondary schools and 158 teams across Nigeria will compete for honours at the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays in Lagos from April 9 to 12.
The four-day athletics festival, now in its third season, will take place simultaneously at the Yabatech Sports Complex and the UNILAG Sports Complex, featuring events across Cadet (U14), Youth (U17), Junior (U20), and Senior (no age limit) categories.
Athletes in the U14 and U17 categories will compete at UNILAG from Days 1 to 3, before moving to Yabatech for the final day. Their counterparts in the U20 and Senior categories will be in action at Yabatech throughout the competition. Students with ongoing examinations will be allowed to compete on Day 4.
The event was officially launched with a press conference at MTN Nigeria’s headquarters in Lagos, where key stakeholders highlighted the impact of the CHAMPS initiative.
More Read
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, said the initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to nation-building through sports.
“MTN CHAMPS is a platform that continues to grow, inspire, and transform the future of athletics in Nigeria. We have remained committed to our vision, and the journey so far has been exceptionally remarkable,” Ikenna-Emeka said.
“In 2023, we launched MTN CHAMPS with a clear vision to discover and nurture young athletic talents. We’ve already selected 20 exceptional athletes who are now receiving professional coaching to represent Nigeria in future championships.”
Representing MoC founder Bambo Akani, Country Manager Deji Ogeyingbo stressed the importance of returning Nigeria to its glory days in track and field.
“Athletics is Nigeria’s most successful Olympic sport. Out of the country’s 27 Olympic medals, 14 have come from track and field,” he said. “With the right structure and support, we can build more stars like Tobi Amusan.”
Lagos State Sports Commission DG Lekan Fatodu reaffirmed the government’s support, saying: “We’ve listened to testimonies of change and transformation, and it’s clear that MTN CHAMPS is an exceptional initiative. Mr. Governor is deliberate about sports development in Lagos.”
Also present were AFN board member Dr. Solomon Alao, Olympic medalist Mary Onyali, and top officials from the Nigeria School Sports Federation and Making of Champions.
The MTN CHAMPS series continues to gain momentum as one of the largest grassroots athletics programmes in the country, providing a competitive platform for Nigeria’s next generation of sporting champions.
© Bold Media Innovations & Creative Hub Limited. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
