By Agboola Aluko, reporting for GLiDE NEWS
T he city of Lagos is buzzing with youthful energy and athletic excellence as the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays make their highly anticipated debut in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Now in its third season, the athletics meet kicked off on Wednesday with a record-breaking 6,298 event entries and 2,505 athletes from across Nigeria and West Africa.
Taking place at two iconic venues—the Yabatech Sports Complex and the UNILAG Sports Centre—the four-day championship is shaping up to be the largest athletics gathering in Nigeria this year, uniting competitors in cadet (U-14), youth (U-17), junior (U-20), and senior categories.
The event also features international athletes from Benin Republic, Togo, and Ivory Coast, reflecting its growing continental appeal.
MTN’s Commitment to Youth and Sports
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to nurturing Nigerian talent and uplifting communities through sports.
“MTN CHAMPS is more than just a competition—it’s a movement to discover, develop, and celebrate the future of Nigerian athletics,” she said. “We’ve identified 20 standout talents so far, and they’re now being groomed to represent Nigeria at global events. Our vision is to consistently produce future Olympians.”
A Platform for Champions
Deji Ogeyinbo, Country Manager of Making of Champions (MoC), echoed similar sentiments, noting that athletics remains Nigeria’s strongest sport at the Olympics.
“Out of Nigeria’s 27 Olympic medals, 14 came from athletics. The talent is here—we just need to harness and transition it to the world stage,” Ogeyinbo said. “With stars like Tobi Amusan paving the way, we must build a pipeline that ensures such excellence becomes the norm.”
Lagos State Backs the Movement
Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, praised the initiative for providing a powerful platform to scout and support budding talents in the country’s most populous state.
“This championship aligns perfectly with our goals. Lagos is a breeding ground for talent, and events like MTN CHAMPS help us tap into that potential,” he stated.
Event Structure and Innovations
From Wednesday to Friday, the UNILAG Sports Centre will host cadet and youth athletes, while junior and senior categories will take place exclusively at Yabatech Sports Complex throughout the competition. On Saturday, all athletes will converge at Yabatech for the final events.
The championship will also feature six relay events, including the recently World Athletics-sanctioned Mixed 4x100m relay, offering athletes a chance to compete in one of the sport’s newest and most exciting formats.
With its strong grassroots focus and continental ambition, MTN CHAMPS is rapidly redefining the athletics landscape in Nigeria, offering not just medals but meaningful career pathways for thousands of young competitors.
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