MTN Backed-Schools’ Athletics Championships Finals Hold In Abuja

All is now set for the fourth leg and grand finale of the MTN backed-schools’ athletics championships, MTN CHAMPS, at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The competition, which is spread across three age brackets — the cadets (U-14), youth (U-17) and juniors (U-20) has had no fewer than 7,000 athletes drawn various schools across the country partaken, starting from October 12 to 14 in Benin, October 26 to 28 in Uyo and  November 9 to 11 in Ibadan, and with the fourth leg and grand finale holding Abuja from tomorrow, December 1 to 3, 2023.

At a press conference held yesterday in Abuja ahead of the grand finale, chief marketing officer, MTN, Adia Showo, said the MTN is excited in sponsoring the program aimed to unearth and foster athletics talents development across the country. “MTN is committed to Nigeria’s young people and what we are trying to do is power the dreams of these young people and provide them with the platform and technology that they need to take on the world,’ Showo said.

“This is an exciting partnership for MTN, we got all that we bargained for and we applaud  Bambo Akani and his institution of Making of Champions. We are also grateful to every youth that shows up in all the events for their joy and competitive spirit. We are really excited for this endeavour.”

The founder and CEO, Making of Champions (MoC), Bambo Akani, said the MTN CHAMPS,  modeled after the Jamaican High school CHAMPS, will be a game changer for school sports in the country and powerful nation building for sports in Nigeria.

He said with a focus on discovering and developing athletic potential, MTN CHAMPS has the potential to transform the sporting landscape in Nigeria, stressing that through the program, talented individuals from all corners of the country will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and receive the training and support they need to reach their full potential as world-class athletes.

“For MTN CHAMPS’ first event alone to have a thousand athletes and now we have reached seven thousand athletes across the four events and the quality is something you never really see before. We are really excited about this and it is going to be a game changer for school sports in Nigeria and the most powerful nation building for sports in the country.”

Making of Champion’s country manager, Deji Ogeyingbo, highlighted the importance of moving across the country in the quest to discover and groom talents that could make the nation proud in future.

He said already 40 athletes comprising MVPs and ‘Golden Performers’ – from the Benin, Uyo and Ibadan legs of the competition are in Abuja and will join the grand final at the semifinal or final stages of each of their events where 10 best athletes would be selected to join MoC Academy.