Season 3 of the MTN Champs Athletics Competition officially kicked off on Thursday, March 13, with the Classics taking place across two major venues: the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Sports Complex.
More than 2,000 young athletes gathered to compete in youth and cadet categories across various track and field events, including the Shot Put, Long Jump, 100m, and 400m races.
At the opening ceremony held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Dennis Idahosa, the deputy governor of Edo State, declared the games open with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Addressing the athletes, he said,
“We thank the management and staff of MTN for bringing this competition to our dear state—a state of culture and hospitality. Our people are passionate about sports, so it is only fitting that we host this prestigious event. I charge all the athletes here today to give it their best.”
Also present at the ceremony were the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Amadin Enebulele, and the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, Efe Amenze.
MTN Champs is executed in partnership with Making of Champions (MoC), a sports media, talent management and events company committed to discovering Nigeria’s next generation of athletic stars.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the platform, a representative from MoC said: “If you look at Nigeria’s Olympic history, we’ve won about 27 medals, and over half of them, about 14, have come from athletics. Nigeria has the talent. Our mission is to find and nurture these champions.”
Osaze Ebueku, Senior Manager, Go-to-Market at MTN Nigeria, emphasized the long-term vision behind MTN Champs: “Our message from day one has been clear. We’re building future Olympians for Nigeria. MTN Champs is about more than competition; it’s about changing lives. Many of the athletes here today, like the MVPs for example, wouldn’t have had these opportunities without this platform. We’re putting them in the spotlight, connecting them with mentors, and helping them realize their potential.”
Ebueku also connected the event to MTN’s wider social impact drive, the Go M.A.D (Make A Difference) with MTN Data campaign, saying: “Champs is an extension of that mission. We want every young person here to not only compete, but to be inspired to go make a difference, in their lives, in their communities, and for Nigeria.”
