By Ayomide Otitoju
MTN Nigeria, in partnership with Making of Champions (MoC), has officially launched Season 4 of MTN CHAMPS, Africa’s leading grassroots athletics league, at a ceremony held at the MTN Event Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Building on the success of its first three seasons, which recorded over 20,000 athlete registrations nationwide, the fourth edition is set to be the most expansive yet. The competition will hold across three cities as organisers intensify efforts to discover and develop young athletes capable of representing Nigeria on the global stage.
Season 4 will open with the MTN CHAMPS Athletics Classics scheduled for March 5 to 7 in Calabar. The MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays will follow from March 26 to 28 in Jos, leveraging the city’s high-altitude advantage for a relay-focused contest. The season will culminate in the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final from April 15 to 18 in Ibadan, where top athletes will compete for overall honours.
Speaking at the unveiling, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Obiageli Ugboma, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to youth and sports development, describing the initiative as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s athletic future. She noted that creating accessible platforms for young talents today would secure podium finishes for the country tomorrow.
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, described MTN CHAMPS as a vital talent pipeline, adding that the collaboration between MTN and MoC has strengthened the national athletics ecosystem. He said the federation would continue to provide technical support to groom emerging athletes for continental and global championships.
A key highlight of the event was the announcement of a three-year extension of the MTN–MoC partnership, ensuring the continuity of the programme through 2028 and aligning preparations with the 2028 Olympic cycle and World U20 competitions.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Making of Champions, Bambo Akani, said the renewed agreement signals a shift from talent discovery to structured athlete development, with a focus on preparing prospects for elite international competitions.
The programme has already produced notable talents, including Ezekiel Asuquo, a sub-46-second 400m runner and medallist at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games, as well as Lucy Nwankwo and Toheebat Jimoh, who excelled at the 2025 African U-18/U-20 Championships. On the domestic circuit, Miracle Uwem Donald has also emerged as a standout performer following her record-breaking outing at the 2025 National Sports Festival.
Registrations for Season 4 are now open ahead of the March commencement, with organisers calling on aspiring athletes nationwide to participate in the next phase of Nigeria’s grassroots athletics revolution.
