Skip to main content

MTN Champs season 4 sets stage for sustained Olympic push to 2028

 


By Joseph Abasi-Abasi 

Season 4 of MTN Champs has officially begun in Calabar, with organizers declaring the championship a critical launchpad for Nigeria’s sustained Olympic preparation through 2028.

Backed by MTN Nigeria and technical partners Making of Champions (MOC), the youth athletics championship is now positioned not just as a schools’ competition, but as a structured pipeline to develop athletes for major international competitions over the next Olympic cycle.

MTN recently extended its partnership with Making of Champions through 2028, guaranteeing Seasons 4, 5 and 6 of the championship. Stakeholders say the move provides stability and long-term planning for cadet, youth, junior and senior athletes as Nigeria builds towards the next Olympic Games.

Speaking at the Season 4 launch in Calabar, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, said the company remains committed to creating platforms that allow young Nigerians to compete locally and internationally.

Since its inception in 2023, MTN Champs has engaged over 22,000 athletes from more than 1,300 schools and staged 11 competitions across eight cities. The Calabar event marks the 12th competition under the championship umbrella.

According to MOC representative Yemi Galadima, about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s team to last year’s African Under-20 Championships had previously competed at MTN Champs, underlining its growing influence in national team selection.

He added that 30 Most Valuable Performers enrolled in the MTN Champs Academy have won 38 medals across the championship circuit, 14 national medals and 10 international medals within one year of structured training. Some have gone on to represent Nigeria at continental competitions, demonstrating the effectiveness of the development model.

Galadima noted that the Calabar meet and the upcoming Continental Relays are crucial as Nigeria seeks to secure qualification spots for the World Relays, with the deadline set for April 5. Ethiopia is also sending athletes to compete, highlighting the competition’s rising continental profile.

Season 4 in Calabar features more than 1,000 athletes from 121 schools competing across four age categories — Under-14, Under-17, Under-20 and Senior — in nearly 100 track and field events.

In a major boost to school participation, MTN unveiled over ₦20 million in prize money. The top four schools will receive ₦2 million, ₦1.5 million, ₦1 million and ₦500,000 respectively. A special attendance category will also reward schools that mobilise the highest number of supporters, with prizes ranging from ₦5 million for first place to ₦500,000 for schools placed sixth to tenth.

Representing the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Pastor Emmanuel Ebong commended MTN and MOC for maintaining discipline and enforcing zero tolerance for age cheating in school sports. He expressed confidence that athletes discovered this season would form part of Nigeria’s contingent for future continental and global competitions.

With a packed international athletics calendar this year and the Olympic horizon in sight, organisers say Season 4 of MTN Champs signals a transition from talent discovery to sustained high-performance preparation, positioning the championship as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s march toward 2028.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BREAKING NEWS: Youths of Ikot Ansa Nab Vandals Destroying Public Utilities, Hand Over to Authorities for Prosecution

  In a combined effort to curb the rampant vandalism of public utilities in Cross River State, the youth leader of Ikot Ansa, Prince, Victor Otu Iso JR, alongside his community, successfully apprehended criminals involved in the destruction of vital public infrastructure. The vandals were caught red-handed this morning, 13th day of September 2024, as they attempted to steal Amor cables belonging to state transformers at Ekpo Iso. Acting swiftly, the youth leader invited the Special Adviser on Public Utilities, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe KSM, and his counterpart on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, to the scene. The Special Advisers arrived promptly, accompanied by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Federal Division, and took custody of the criminals. The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further interrogation and prosecution. While addressing the youths of Ikot Ansa, Engr. Dr. Egbe and Barr. Akiba commended t...
1 comment
Read more

Engr. Jerome Egbe Visits NSCDC Command for Strategic Partnership on Public Utilities

  The Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on Public Utilities, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe, KSM, today, October 8, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Cross River Command, Mr. Brown Charles, in Calabar.  The visit centered on establishing a strategic partnership to protect and secure public utilities across the state from vandals and criminal elements. During the meeting, Engr. Egbe emphasized the importance of safeguarding all critical public infrastructure and ensuring close collaboration between the Ministry of Public Utilities and the NSCDC in achieving the Governor’s vision for a sustainable and secure state. He also inspected the state of the Command’s facilities and sympathized with the personnel over the recent rainstorm that destroyed parts of the roofing, leaving the building flooded and disrupting operations. Engr. Egbe conveyed the administration’s sympathy and reiterated Governor Bassey O...
1 comment
Read more

UNICROSS ACTING VC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DAMAGE OF UNIVERSITY STUCTURES AFTER RAINSTORM IN CALABAR

  The Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Cross River State, Professor Francisca Bassey, has expressed concern over the gravity of damage of the University's structures recorded in the wake of the rainstorm which swept through Calabar city yesterday, the 7th of May, 2025.  The Acting Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Director of Administration,  Professor Tom Ojikpong, expressed this concern when she led members of the University's management team on an on-the-spot inspection of the affected buildings in Calabar campus of the University. Yesterday's fierce rainstorm partially affected some offices including the conference room in the Administrative Building housing the Vice Chancellor's office. Other affected buildings are: the University's Library, Student Affairs building, Biological Science building, Environmental Studies building, New Science Block A, JAMB/CBT center, former Post Graduate School building, Mass Communication old block and the New Aud...
Post a Comment
Read more