By Ayomide Otitoju
The grand finale of the MTN Champs Season 3 Lagos Continental Relays came to a thrilling close on April 12, 2025, at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) Sports Complex, delivering a vibrant blend of athletic excellence, family-friendly entertainment, and corporate camaraderie.
Following several days of intense track and field events that saw the emergence of new national records and the historic debut of the Olympics-approved mixed relays in Nigeria on April 11, the final day turned into a celebration of sport and fun.
Among the standout moments of the day was the MTN Staff Relays, a spirited contest that featured employees from various departments of MTN Nigeria competing for glory, bragging rights, and prizes. Eight teams—Bizmo Blazers, Sales Sprinters, Money Movers, Speed Signals, Powerhouse Striders, Customer Champions, Premium Enablers, and the Innovators—battled it out in 4x100m relay races in both male and female categories.
Team Innovators dominated the event, taking home gold in both categories, much to the delight of the crowd.
Adding to the excitement, MTN Nigeria executives also joined the action, participating in 50m sprint events, showcasing not only leadership but also athletic flair.
Speaking at the event, Chief Human Resources Officer, Esther Akinnukawe, highlighted the essence of the staff relay. “I want this to be a reminder for us, on a day-to-day basis, to move our bodies, to make sure that we sweat so we can actually thrive,” she said, linking the activity to the company’s Go M.A.D (Make A Difference) campaign, which encourages individuals to create positive impact in their respective roles.
Spectators at the complex enjoyed a mix of music, games such as puzzles, Ludo, X and O, and volleyball, turning the finale into a family-friendly festival.
The Lagos leg of the MTN Champs attracted more than 2,500 entries from 155 schools across Nigeria and beyond. Competitions were held across four age categories—Cadet (U-14), Youth (U-17), Junior (U-20), and Senior—featuring a range of track and field disciplines.
The MTN Champs Season 3 continues with its grand finale in Uyo, scheduled for April 30 to May 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
