MTN CHAMPS Season 4 has delivered a significant boost to grassroots sports development in Cross River State, as the opening leg of the nationwide athletics competition concluded in Calabar with schools earning substantial rewards for outstanding performance and participation.
The three-day competition, held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium from Thursday through the weekend, brought together student-athletes from numerous schools, showcasing emerging talents across multiple track and field events. The event crowned champions in several categories while reinforcing the importance of school sports in nurturing future athletics stars.
To further encourage participation and strengthen school sports programmes, MTN Nigeria announced generous cash rewards for podium finishes and exceptional student turnout.
Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, revealed that schools whose athletes finished on the podium would receive N2,000,000 for first place, N1,500,000 for second place, N1,000,000 for third place, and N500,000 for fourth place.
In addition, schools with the highest number of participating students will also benefit from special attendance incentives. The top school will receive N5,000,000, followed by N3,000,000 for second place, N2,000,000 for third, N1,500,000 for fourth, and N1,000,000 for fifth. Schools ranking from sixth to tenth in attendance will each receive a consolation prize of N500,000.
Speaking on the significance of the programme, Ikenna-Emeka noted that MTN CHAMPS continues to serve as a powerful platform for discovering and nurturing young athletic talents across Nigeria.
“MTN is delighted to return to Calabar, a city renowned for its vibrant sporting culture and abundance of young talents. Through MTN CHAMPS, we are not only creating opportunities for young athletes to compete but also supporting schools in building stronger sports programmes,” she said.
According to her, the competition has continued to expand in reach and impact. Over the past three seasons, more than 22,000 student-athletes from over 1,000 schools across Nigeria have participated in the championship. The initiative has already produced 14 national medalists and several athletes who have gone on to represent Nigeria at international competitions.
Managing Director of Making of Champions, Yemi Galadima, emphasised the importance of the Calabar leg of the competition, describing it as a critical pathway for identifying athletes who could qualify for Team Nigeria’s participation at the upcoming World Relays.
He commended MTN Nigeria for its sustained commitment to grassroots athletics development and for extending support for the programme for another three years.
“MTN CHAMPS continues to play a crucial role in building the future of Nigerian athletics by identifying young talents early and providing them with the right platform to grow and compete at higher levels,” Galadima stated.
With Season 4 already gaining momentum, the MTN CHAMPS initiative continues to demonstrate the impact of strategic investment in youth development, combining competitive athletics with meaningful support for schools and communities while strengthening Nigeria’s grassroots sports ecosystem.