Grassroots Glory: MTN Champs Finale Kicks Off in Uyo

No fewer than 2,400 athletes from 418 secondary schools across Nigeria on Tuesday converged at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, for the grand finale of MTN Champs Season 3, Nigeria’s premier grassroots athletics competition.

Organized to discover and groom the country’s next generation of Olympic stars, MTN Champs has toured major cities including Benin and Lagos culminating in the ongoing grand finale in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ibe Etea, General Manager, Internal Audit & Forensic Services at MTN Nigeria, emphasized the scale and vision of the project.

“With over 2,400 athletes and 418 schools, the stakes are higher, the lights are brighter, and the talent on display is nothing short of world-class. MTN Champs is more than a competition; it’s a movement.” He said

Representing the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey applauded MTN’s investment in youth development and affirmed the state’s alignment with the competition’s goals.

“In Akwa Ibom, sports is a vital part of our Arise Agenda. We are mandated to go to the grassroots, and MTN’s objective aligns perfectly with ours.” He said

He urged athletes to compete clean and enjoy the rich hospitality of the host state.

Modeled after Jamaica’s famed high school CHAMPS, MTN Champs has fast become a national platform for uncovering Nigeria’s next athletic icons.