The third season of MTN Champs continues its momentum with the Lagos Continental Relays, scheduled to take place from April 9 to 12 at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) and University of Lagos (UNILAG) sports complexes.

This follows the successful Benin Classics, which were held from March 13 to 15.

A total of 2,505 athletes have registered for the MTN Champs Lagos Continental Relays, featuring 6,298 event entries from 155 secondary schools.

Of the registered athletes, 1,598 are male, and 907 are female. The senior category will also welcome international competitors from Benin Republic, Togo, and Ivory Coast.

Read Also: Athletes gear up for MTN Champs Continental Relays in Lagos

Diverse competition categories

The athletes will compete in a wide array of track and field events, showcasing their talents in the 100m, 200m, 400m, various relay races, high jump, and long jump. Competition will be fierce across four distinct age categories: Cadet (Under-14), Youth (Under-17), Junior (Under-20), and Senior.

MTN Nigeria reaffirms commitment to athletic development

Speaking at a press briefing on April 8, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to transforming athletes and athletics in Nigeria.

“MTN Champs is a platform that continues to grow, transform, and inspire the future of athletes and athletics in Nigeria. At MTN, we remain committed to supporting the dreams and aspirations of Nigeria, not only through innovative products but through socially impactful initiatives, especially in football and athletics.”

Launched in 2023, MTN Champs was designed to discover and develop young talent across Nigeria. Already, 20 athletes identified as Most Valuable Players (MVPs) are on one-year scholarships at a Lagos-based academy.

Lagos State and Sports federations lend strong support

The Lagos State Government, Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) are all backing the relays.

Lekan Fatodu, Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the MTN Champs initiative.

“There is no better way to describe this event than saying that it is exceptional and inspirational. This is a motivation for us as the government.”

Fatodu also revealed plans to upgrade sports infrastructure in the state, including a revamp of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, as part of a broader effort to bolster Nigeria’s sporting development.

Grand finale in Uyo

The grand finale of MTN Champs Season 3 will take place in Uyo from April 30 to May 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date

Open In Whatsapp