Idara Jerome, Uyo

Eagle International High School, Akwa Ibom State, has called on banks and other corporate organisations to invest in school sports as MTN Nigeria provided equipment worth ₦500,000 to support the development of young athletes.

The school’s Vice Principal Academics, Ahenda Terhemen, made the appeal during the handover of sporting materials to the school, saying sustained corporate support would help nurture students capable of representing Nigeria at national and international competitions.

“Most organisations have an obligation to really assist communities. We expect that, particularly organisations like banks, should partner with us,” Terhemen said.

He explained that the donation followed the third-place finish of one of the school’s students in a race during the fourth season of the MTN Champs competition held in Calabar, Cross River State.

According to him, the student’s achievement attracted an award of ₦500,000, which MTN subsequently converted into sporting materials, including jerseys and track-and-field equipment, for the school.

Terhemen said the items would reduce the financial burden of providing sports equipment and strengthen the school’s efforts to develop athletics alongside classroom education.

“This is a core activity that runs alongside educational activity, and we are so keen on developing that in our children as well. We want, if possible, to produce future Olympians from this place,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the new equipment would improve the school’s participation in competitions and help prepare its students for opportunities to join national teams.

The school, he added, had incorporated sports into its timetable, with activities usually scheduled for Friday mornings to protect students from the harsh afternoon weather.

Dr Theo Nnabugwu, Senior Manager for Network Operations, South-East and South-South, MTN Nigeria, said the donation was part of the company’s investment in young Nigerians through the MTN Champs athletics initiative.

“For MTN, we believe that these children will grow up to be champions, world champions,” Nnabugwu said, adding that the company’s objective was to equip young athletes to develop their abilities and represent Nigeria.

He said the handover covered sports equipment such as javelins and shot puts, as well as jerseys for students from schools that participated in the competition and earned awards.

Nnabugwu said MTN had also delivered sporting materials to participating schools in Cross River State, adding that the company would continue investing in young athletes beyond the fourth season of the annual competition.

He noted that providing young people with the right tools and opportunities was important to developing future champions, including athletes who could compete at continental and global levels.

The intervention places renewed attention on the need for partnerships between schools and private organisations to bridge equipment gaps and create pathways for young athletes to progress from school competitions to elite sports.