MTN Nigeria is set to launch the third season of its MTN Champs athletics competition in Benin City, Edo State, from March 13th to 15th, aiming to discover and nurture young athletic talent across the nation.
This was announced by Mr. Idowu Adesokan, General Manager, Segment and Devices, MTN, during a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday.
The initiative, designed to revive grassroots athletics and identify potential future Olympians, will target approximately 7,000 secondary school students across Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states.
According to Adesokan, Edo and Akwa Ibom will each host 2,000 students, while Lagos will see participation from 3,000 students.
“Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states are targeted for this programme with 2,000 students in each of the first two states and 3,000 in Lagos,” Adesokan stated.
Since its inception in 2023, the MTN Champs program has engaged over 900 secondary schools, hosted over 15,000 students, and identified 20 promising athletes who are currently undergoing intensive training at the MTN academy.
“Since its inception in 2023, the programme has engaged 900 secondary schools, hosted over 15,000 students, and discovered 20 talented athletes for further training,” Adesokan explained.
He also highlighted the significant contribution of Edo State, noting that “the 20 selected athletes currently training at the MTN academy included several from Edo, demonstrating the region’s strong athletic potential.”
The program seeks to encourage young people to pursue athletics as a viable career path, focusing on building a strong foundation for sports development at the community level. Adesokan emphasized the crucial role of grassroots initiatives like MTN Champs in revitalizing Nigerian athletics and cultivating future Olympic contenders.
“The initiative aims to encourage youth to consider athletics as a career, focusing on grassroots development and promoting sports at the community level,” he said.
“Edo was chosen for the 2025 edition due to its continuous investment in sports development and its prominent performance at the National Sports Festival.”
Adesokan also expressed appreciation for Edo State’s contributions to the program, highlighting that the state accounts for a significant portion of the athletes currently in training.
“We are here to partner with the Edo government, and we want the government to be involved by providing sports facilities, accommodation, and logistics for the athletes,” he added.
Governor Okpebholo lauded MTN for selecting Edo State as the launch location and pledged unwavering support for the program’s success, including providing logistical and financial assistance.
“We are grateful to MTN for choosing Edo to launch the programme and pledged full support for its success, including logistical and financial assistance,” Okpebholo said.
He confirmed his attendance at the launch and underscored the importance of sports in driving development and enhancing community awareness.
“Sports is vital in driving development and raising awareness within the community and beyond,” he noted, assuring MTN of the state’s cooperation, including resources such as transportation, accommodation, and government assistance for athletes and organizers.
