To discover future generation of Olympics athletes for Nigeria at the grassroots level, telecommunications giant, MTN, in partnership with Making of Champions (MoC), yesterday, unveiled the MTN Schools’ Athletics Championships in Lagos.

Tagged MTN CHAMPS, the competition, according to MoC, is aimed at transforming school sports with four centres hosting the first edition across the country.

The tournament, a brainchild of MoC in collaboration with the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), has been guaranteed technical support by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The first leg will be held in Benin City, Edo State capital from October 12 to 14, while Uyo, Akwa Ibom State will host the second leg between October 26 and 28. The championship will be held in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State from November 9 to 11, while the fourth leg/grand finale will be held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja between November 29 and December 2.

The Chairman of MoC, Engr. Olu Akani stated yesterday that over 7,000 athletes from 500 schools are expected to participate across the four events. According to him, the best athletes discovered from each zone will converge for the finale.

On his part, MoC Partnership Manager, Babatunde Koiki, stated that the ultimate goal of MTN CHAMPS is to re-ignite grassroots athletics talent search across Nigeria to discover and develop the athletes that will deliver global medals and become future sporting legends for the nation.

He revealed that the grand prize of season one will be full one-year sponsorships for 10 athletes discovered at MTN CHAMPS to join MoC Athletics Academy in Lagos, which MTN is supporting as Lead Sponsor in 2024, to enable the best talents discovered earn college or high school scholarships in the United States or Jamaica, and to train for a chance to represent Nigeria at future global competitions.

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of MTN, Adia Sowho, revealed that the company decided to partner with MoC because of its belief that MTN CHAMPS will produce athletes that Nigerians would be proud of in the nearest future.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, described the MTN CHAMPS as a big rescue to Nigerian athletics.

“Grassroots sports is key to sports development, and we, at the AFN are happy with the emergence of MTN CHAMPS because it is a refill for our ageing athletes. We just concluded the National Youth Games in Asaba, which is for athletes below the age of 15 years. We have been appealing to the Sports Ministry to bring in athletes between the age of 16 and 18 years, but we have not made headway. This is a big rescue for us, and the AFN will give MTN CHAMPS all the assistance without any financial commitments,” Okowa stated.

Seven U.S.-based Nigerian athletes have been named ambassadors for the MTN CHAMPS. They are Usheoritse Itsekiri, Miracle Thompson, Ashe Favour, Udodi Onwuzurike, Emmanuel Ojele, Nse-Uko Imabong and Enoch Adegoke.