The stage is set for five days of intense and exciting competition across Cadet (U-14), Youth (U-17), Junior (U-20) and Senior levels as Season 2 of MTN CHAMPS takes off with the MTN CHAMPS/AFN National Trials to be held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, from Saturday, 17th February, 2024.
A press conference was held in Asaba on Friday, 16th February, to herald the competition which runs until Wednesday, 21st February, and would be used to select the Nigerian Athletics team to next month’s African Games being staged in Accra, Ghana.
Some the dignitaries in attendance included the Delta State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Agbateyiniro Weyinmi Isaac; Senior Manager, Brand, Media and Sponsorships – MTN, Friday Okuwe; Manager, Sponsorships – MTN, Njide Ken-Odogwu; President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, and AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku.
Others are the Delta State Co-ordinator of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Mrs Justina Ishaka, AFN Secretary General, Rita Mosindi, and Making of Champions’ (MoC) Country Director, Brian Anigbo.
Giving his opening address, Hon. Isaac lauded the efforts of MTN towards promoting sports development in Nigeria. He said: “Let me start by commending the organisers of this programme for the journey so far. Do not forget that development is not an event; it’s a process, and as a government, I know the place sports occupies in the mind of my principal, the Executive Governor of Delta State. I thank the organisers for bringing this competition back home to Delta, which we consider the deposit of raw talents, not only in Athletics, but other sports as well.”
Whilst stating the reasons behind MTN’s foray into CHAMPS, Okuwe said: “It’s been quite a journey, and the discoveries from Season 1 gave us the courage that there’s a lot to discover in this country. It’s also not an accident that we have chosen to come to Delta State because this is the bastion of talent. For us, MTN CHAMPS is a national intervention initiative designed to unearth future Olympic Champions for Nigeria who will compete on the world stage.
“Other countries have a system and structure through which they develop future champions who shine on the international stage, and we know that Nigeria is full of raw talents. We need to give them the right platform to showcase their skills and be discovered. That is what MTN CHAMPS is all about.”
AFN President Chief Okowa reiterated the federation’s support towards programmes and initiatives aimed at grassroots development and the betterment of Athletics in general.
He said: “We are happy MTN is supporting Athletics. We appreciate them, and because of how far we believe in them and MoC, we agreed to do our National Trials in conjunction with them. The African Games is just around the corner, and we hope that our home-based athletes that will attend the competition will give it their best. We’re looking forward to making the country proud at the Games.”
The NSSF Co-ordinator for Delta State Mrs Ishaka stated that the School Sport body is always happy with any platform that gives young students the opportunity to showcase their talent.
Nearly 2000 Event Entries from 856 Athletes across 65 schools and 60 Junior (U-20) teams have been received ahead of the competition.
All Registered Schools/Athletes must pick up their competition bibs to confirm their participation no later than Friday 16th & Saturday 17th February, at the Competition venue to remain on their event startlists.
ALL Athletes under the age of 21 must also print the 1-page parental consent form for their parent or legal guardian to sign and return at bib collection – a recognized contact of each Athletes’ School/Team should coordinate collection of their bibs and the return of their signed parental consent forms! The Parental Consent Form can be downloaded on https://mtnchamps.com/registration
Below is the final summary report of Athlete, Schools & Team registrations for MTN CHAMPS/AFN National Trials as at February 16th, 2023, as well as the Schedule of Events and list of Senior Athletes whose accommodation is being sponsored by MTN:
Summary of Entries by Event Registrations
Summary of Entries by Athlete/School/Team Registrations
Final List of sponsored Athletes
