The grand final of the MTN Champs Season 3 opened on Tuesday with a display of athleticism and cultural heritage at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The four-day athletics showcase, which runs from May 6 to 9, brings together 2,187 athletes representing over 5,800 event entries in a finale that celebrates both talent and tradition.
Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony included the Akwa Ibom State commissioners for sports and education, representatives of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Making of Champions (MoC) officials and executives from MTN Nigeria.
Delivering the opening speech, the general manager of the internal audit & forensic services at MTN Nigeria, Ibe Etea, said, “We began this journey with a clear vision to discover, develop, and celebrate the next generation of Nigerian athletic champions. In Benin, we had over 2,000 athletes participate, with passion, discipline, and determination. In Lagos, we saw national records broken, with over 2,500 athletes and 155 schools registering for the event, the highest since the inception of MTN Champs.
“Now, we are here in Uyo, the heartbeat of Akwa Ibom, a city known for its hospitality and rising sporting culture. With a total of 2,400 registered athletes from 418 schools pre-vetting, the event will no doubt showcase exceptional talents across Akwa Ibom and the broader South-South region. The stakes are higher, the lights are brighter, and the talent on display is nothing short of world-class.
“At MTN, we believe in giving young Nigerians the platform to shine, not just on local fields, but on global stages. MTN Champs is more than a competition; it’s a movement. A pipeline. A promise.”
Etea concluded by encouraging all participating athletes to see themselves as champions, regardless of the competition’s outcome.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Paul Bassey, commissioner for sports and Prof. Ubong Umoh, commissioner for education, declared the event open.
Representing Governor Umo Eno, Bassey delivered the keynote address, affirming the administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development.
He said, “The governor has asked me to say that it’s a delight that we’re hosting this competition here in Akwa Ibom state. He’s asked me to appreciate MTN for what they have done by raising champions, and to acknowledge the fact that this is the way to go.
“In Akwa Ibom state, sports occupies a prominent place in the Arise agenda. In the sports ministry, we have been given a mandate to go to the grassroots and schools to develop and nurture talents, and when he [the governor] heard that this is the cardinal objective of MTN and the partners working with them, he felt obliged for us to come, and that is why we’re here.
“We’re grateful for what MTN has done, through corporate citizens. We pray that others will emulate the MTN example, because the government cannot do it alone. We need sponsors and partners to develop our youth.
“We have depleted champions in track and field. That is why this competition is dear to our hearts. In the next 5 or 6 years, we will be able to say that, in Uyo, in 2025, that young athlete was discovered. That will be our pride.”
The grand opening featured a rousing performance by the Nigerian Police Band, a traditional dance presentation by a local cultural troupe and a lively march-past led by Team MVP, joined by local schools and Team MTN, a group made up of standout athletes from Seasons 1 and 2 who are now part of the MoC Academy.
Highlighting recent achievements, Team MTN was celebrated for winning their first Junior Team Trophy at the Lagos Continental Relays.
As the event progresses, ten new athletes will be selected for induction into the MoC Academy, continuing MTN’s commitment to nurturing future stars of Nigerian athletics.
MTN CHAMPS was inaugurated in 2023 through a collaboration between MTN Nigeria and Making of Champions (MoC).
The initiative aims to revitalise school sports and identify athletic talent across the nation. The inaugural season featured over 7,000 athletes from nearly 500 schools competing in four cities, Benin, Uyo, Ibadan and Abuja.
In 2024, MTN CHAMPS expanded its scope by introducing the MTN Champs Academy, a year-long program designed to further develop the top 20 athletes from the first two seasons.
By its third season in 2025, MTN CHAMPS had solidified its position as Nigeria’s largest inter-school athletics competition, continuing to unearth and nurture the nation’s future sporting legends.
