2,600 Athletes Compete In Inaugural Continental Relays at MTN Champs

MTN Champs, Nigeria’s premier Schools’ Athletics Championships, commences in Ibadan, following a successful kickoff in Asaba. Taking place from April 5th to April 8th, this leg of MTN Champs boasts a record number of 2,600 participating athletes.

MTN Champs, an initiative by MTN Nigeria, aims to nurture the competitive spirit of young athletes across four distinct age categories: Cadet (U14), Youth (U17), Junior (U20), and the newly introduced senior (no age limit). The championship offers a diverse range of track and field events, providing a stage for athletes to demonstrate their skills in sprints, hurdles, middle-distance races, jumps, and throws.

MTN Champs represents a collaborative effort between Making of Champions (MoC), the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). This partnership ensures high standards and expert mentorship, providing a clear pathway for talented athletes to rise to national and international prominence.

A press conference was held in Ibadan on Thursday, April 4th, to kick off the second leg of the MTN Champs event in Ibadan. Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Professor Abdul Waheed Salihu Adelabu, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State; Hon. Wasilat Adegoke, Commissioner for Sports, Oyo State; Bisi Adegoke, Director of Sports Administration, Ministry of Youth and Sports Oyo State; Bambo Akani, Founder, Making of Champions; Idowu Adesokan, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria.

In his remarks, Idowu Adesokan, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, emphasized a deeper significance beyond the thrilling competitions and records to be broken at MTN Champs. He highlighted the unifying power of sports, which transcends everyday divisions. Adesokan acknowledged that while football holds a strong position in the hearts of Nigerians, athletics has steadily claimed its own space. Adesokan stated, “While football holds a special place in the hearts of Nigerians, athletics has steadily carved its own path to success. We’ve witnessed countless athletes who’ve filled us with pride on the international stage, from The African Games to the Olympics. These individuals have put Nigeria firmly on the global map. We are excited to be part of this initiative and will continue to support things that matter to Nigerians,” said Adesokan.

Building on the overwhelming success of its inaugural season, which saw the participation of over 7,000 athletes across four cities, Season 2 of MTN Champs is expanding its geographical reach. The championship will now unfold across five cities, with each city hosting a leg of the competition. The second leg, scheduled to take place in Ibadan from April 5th to 8th, holds special significance as it serves as a continental event, marking a historic milestone in the championship’s journey.

Commenting on this milestone, Bambo Akani, Founder of Making of Champions, emphasized Nigeria’s strong potential in athletics at the press conference noting the nation’s impressive record of eight out of ten relay medals won at the Olympics in the last decade. Akani emphasized at the press conference that   “We need to start setting our sights higher. We’re not satisfied with dominating Africa in track and field. That’s a low bar for us to set for ourselves. In the next five years with MTN Champs, you’re going to see Nigeria be mentioned in the same breath as USA and Jamaica in track and field, sprinting, and the olympics. That is why we’re also using this event to launch the idea of the continental relays.”

Other notable figures who graced the press conference included HRM Oba Dairo Jacob Olutayo Fadairo I, the Olasole of Lasole Kingdom; Akin Osun Sunday, State Coordinator, Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF); Deji Aliu, Olympic medallist and MTN CHAMPS Meet Director; and Enoch Adegoke, MTN CHAMPS Ambassador and five-time qualifying Olympian.