MTN Champs 03 records 5,807 event entries from 2187 athletes

Organisers of MTN Champs, MTN Nigeria, have revealed that 5,807 event entries have been recorded from 2,187 athletes registered for the Uyo final of the season 03.

The breakdown shows the participants include 464 Cadets, 777 Youths, 426 Juniors, and 520 Seniors, even as the Benin Athletics Classics attracted 2,056 entries, while the Lagos Continental Relays saw 2,505 entries.

Emmamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communications, MTN Nigeria, disclosed this on Monday, during the Press Conference to mark the kick-off of MTN Champs season 03, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to her, their goal is to birth sport champions that would attend international competitions, in preparation for the next Olympics.

“We hope to birth future champions from here.
The goal is in the next one year, they should start attending international competitions. And from there in preparation for the Olympics, we should see Nigeria in the USA or in Mexico, representing Nigeria fully.

“The dream of having Nigeria on the world stage is a strong vision that we hold to accomplish”. Ogoro stated.

According to her, MTN Champs dream, which was conceived in 2023, have produced over 15,000 athletes across 900 schools participating in her seasons one and two, targeted at grassroots development.

“We stand for progress for Nigerian youths and looking into grassroots development the MTN Champs dream was born in 2013 and overtime, is the foreground of supporting all our youngsters to pursue their dreams. It gladdens my heart that at these events, we are beginning to see people breaking their personal records and having records of about ten. When you start having 10 in athletics, it means already you are on the world stage.

“We have gone around about seven states, places where we know fully well that they are athletic talents. We have also discovered talents in very rural areas and here in Akwa Ibom state, there are three youngsters representing the state and this is a huge accomplishment”. She noted.

Speaking, the Regional General Manager, Operations, East, MTN Nigeria, Mr Callimo Inino, said the mission of MTN Champs is to nurture the story of champions beyond connectivity to their lives and aspirations.

“MTN Champs was built with a clear vision to discover and nurture young, athletes, with goal of building future Olympians. For Nigeria. There is nothing as comforting as seeing the names of Nigerians on the Olympic stand.

“We have remained committed to our goal to our vision, and journey, of ensuring exceptional and remarkable performances. We have witness young and raw athletes, talents across the country. This is not a domestic affair.
Every child from every community has the chance to be a champion”. He collaborated.

Inino disclosed that MTN Champs has so far discovered and selected 20 exceptional talents from different parts of the countries, even as it has MVPs for the season three.
“The best thing is to have a testament. The best thing is to have evidence. They are sitting here with us. They are currently enrolled in an academy in Lagos on a one-year scholarship. What this Champs is doing through the academy is providing three Es: Education, Exposure and Experience to the trainees. These three things build the skills and attitudinal balance that allow them to grow.

“Season 1 took place in Benin, Uyo, Ibadan and Abuja. We had a record of over 7,000 athletes from over 335 secondary schools.

This is a platform for exposure. In season two, we accelerated the momentum. It was held in Asaba, Ibadan, Jos and Calabar and over 8,000 athletes across 500 secondary schools participated in that season.
“Season three, has promised to be the most exciting, starting in Benin with over 2000 athletes, Lagos with over 6000 entries from over 2505 athletics representing 155 secondary schools, the highest number of schools ever registered in MTN Champs, with a debut of international athletes from Benin, Cote D’ivioire and Togo. Now, Uyo is the center of the grand finale.

“At MTN, we take pride in creating opportunities, supporting young talent, empowering Nigerian children, and building a future where dreams are not only imagined, but also realised and actualised.” he maintained.

Declaring the event open, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, expressed his belief in what MTN Nigeria is doing, saying Youth development is a cardinal part of the ARISE Agenda of his administration.

Represented by the commissioner of Sports in the state, Elder Paul Bassey, said that MTN Champs is an event after the heart of the State Government as a state of the arts Sports Academy is underway in the State.

He thanked MTN and urged other corporate organizations to emulate such wonderful gesture, saying that Akwa Ibom State is in a hurry to sports talents among the youths.

“This is in line with the ARISE Agenda of this State. The governor is always apt on the need to develop and nurture talents. Therefore, we identify fully with this event, that is aimed at nurturing and developing talents, especially in track and field.

“We appreciate MTN Nigeria for this gesture. We appreciate all those involved in ensuring the success of the event. This is season three and we are glad to be part of it “. The Commissioner expressed.
Our Correspondent reports that the kick-off race commenced on Monday, from the globe at Willington Bassey Way, through Nnwaniba, to Ring Road 3, back to the Uyo Plaza and terminated at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium venue for the event, with exchange of batons at four strategic locations.