The third season of the MTN Champs Continental Relays kicked off with great excitement and energy in Lagos on Wednesday, April 10, drawing praise from teachers and school coaches for its scale, organisation, and commitment to youth development.
Holding across the YabaTech Sports Complex and the UNILAG Sports Centre, the championship will feature over 2,500 athletes competing in various track and field events.
With students competing across cadet and youth categories, educators in attendance were quick to share their appreciation for MTN’s efforts in providing a national stage for discovering young talent.
“I can say I am overwhelmed with excitement,” said Ihejireka Comfort, a teacher from Basil International School. “Seeing over 150 schools gathered, well-organized and even receiving food—it’s a great effort. Two of our students came third in their events, and they’ve worked hard for this. We train every Tuesday and even had final rehearsals just before this competition.”
She further added, “If more organisations could do what MTN is doing, Nigeria would discover so many hidden talents. Regardless of background, any child can shine with the right platform.”
From Fomat Ville College, teacher Jacob Sovi also commended the initiative. One of his students qualified for the next round of the race event, a moment of pride for him. “We’ve done a series of intense training to get here. As a teacher, I’m proud of my students, and I’m thankful to MTN for making this possible. They’ve done so well, and I believe they’ll continue to do even more in the future. Kudos to MTN.”
Yemi Onikola, Assistant Coach at Igbobi College, shared similar sentiments. “It’s a fantastic show. MTN has done something special. Even though we got the information a bit late, we still managed to participate. I have two girls in the 100m Under-17 race, and one of them came second. It’s been a delightful experience.”
For Animashaun Kunle, a school coach who brought 34 students to the event, MTN Champs represents more than just a competition—it’s a chance for students to find purpose beyond academics. “Not every child is book-smart. Some are gifted physically. With proper support and platforms like this, they can go far—maybe even to the Olympics. MTN is doing the best job when it comes to grassroots talent development and is helping to raise a new generation of stars.”
Bambo Akani, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Making of Champions (MOC), in a media interview, highlighted the importance of the championships in identifying and developing promising athletes. He shared that MTN Champs has already discovered raw talents, some of whom have gone on to earn full athletic scholarships in the United States. Akani expressed optimism that many of these rising stars will go on to represent Nigeria proudly on both national and international stages.
MTN Champs is modelled after Jamaica’s world-renowned High School Champs and is rapidly growing to become Nigeria’s top platform for identifying and nurturing young athletic talent.
