Nigeria’s build-up to the forthcoming World Relays gathered pace yesterday as over 1,000 athletes competed at the Season 4 of MTN Champs at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, in Calabar, Cross River State.

With the April 5 qualification deadline approaching, officials say the three-day championship could play a significant role in sharpening relay prospects ahead of the global event in Botswana.

At a press conference held yesterday in Calabar, a member of the Local Organising Committee and Making of Champions (MoC), Yemi Galadima, said the competition has evolved into a major feeder system for the national team.

According to her, about 80 per cent of athletes who represented Nigeria at last year’s African U-20 Championships had previously competed at MTN Champs, underscoring the platform’s growing influence on the country’s athletics structure.

She also recalled that Nigeria’s only World Relays qualification mark so far came at the Continental Relays in Lagos, where the mixed 4x100m team clocked 42.91 seconds.

With limited windows left before the deadline, she noted that competitions such as the Calabar meet remain crucial for athletes seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s relay chances.

The Calabar event is the 12th meet under the MTN Champs series since its inception in 2023.

Athletes from 121 schools will compete across four categories, U-14, U-17, U-20 and senior, in nearly 100 track and field events.

Galadima further revealed that developing elite athletes is financially intensive, with academy members relocated to Lagos, enrolled in quality secondary schools and supported with structured training programmes, physiotherapy, gym access and competition exposure.

Because of the cost implications, only 10 new athletes are admitted into the academy each season, bringing the current number to 30.

Organisers say the long-term goal is to gradually build a sustainable pipeline of athletes capable of representing Nigeria at major international competitions.

The Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, said more than 22,000 athletes from over 1,300 schools have participated in the championship over the past three seasons, with 30 standout performers currently enrolled in the MTN Champs Academy.

She disclosed that measures were in place to ensure that prize money awarded to schools is channeled strictly into sports development, including inter-house competitions and infrastructure upgrades, through a structured partnership involving Making of Champions, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and registered schools.

Officials also acknowledged concerns about limited opportunities for athletes with disabilities. They noted that a deaf athlete emerged as one of the Most Valuable Performers in the maiden season and competed at the grand final in Abuja, stressing that the championship remains open to all categories, although expanding specialised events requires significant funding.

The Vice President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation, Pastor Emmanuel Obong, commended the initiative and reiterated the federation’s zero tolerance for age cheating in school sports.

He also disclosed that plans were underway to revive the National School Sports Festival after a 10-year hiatus.

Athletes from Ethiopia are expected to feature in the Calabar meet, adding continental significance to the championship as Nigeria intensifies preparations for a busy international athletics calendar.