General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria PLC, Emamoke Ogoro, on Friday stated that the MTN Champs has exposed many Nigerian kids to national and international tournaments, helping them to balance their natural talents in athletics with their educational careers.
Ogoro said this during the grand finale of the week-long MTN Champs Season 4, which took place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, as well as, the University of Ibadan Sports Complex. Earlier seasons had taken place in Calabar and Jos.
The programme had in attendance many stakeholders from across the country including the Oyo State Sports Commissioner, Wasilat Adegoke, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde; Mr. Bambo Akani, founder and CEO of Making of Champions (MoC); David Bot Damboyi, State Coordinator, Sports, Ministry of Education, Plateau State; HRM Oba Jacob Dario Olutayo; Tunde Ajibike (Acting GM Oyo state Sports Council), Amb. Enoch Adegoke, Oluchi Ubazue (Marketing and Communications Manager at Beacon Power Services, (BPS), and many others.
The GM said, “MTN Champs is now the hope of athletics in Nigeria, where the international scouts look at their championship and they now scout for international athletes in Nigeria. It has improved many of our kids who were discovered from different states across the federation, and taken to the Academy. Many of them are now in their personal best. They have got exposed to local and international tournaments. It is now a big home of athletics in the whole of Nigeria where international championships are looking for champions and they scout for future athletes from Nigeria.
“Instant case is where other countries are coming and begin to participate in MTN Champs, like the last time when we had the Ethiopia. This time around, we have Ghana and it shows hope. Two of our athletes have qualified to participate in the world relay race in Botswana coming up in May. I think this is a great improvement, and from where we are coming from”.
Speaking on structures put in place to ensure a smooth transition from the school level competition to the national level, she said, “we have been partnering with the NSSF, that is the Athletic Federation of Nigeria. We have been sensitizing schools ourselves and also driving serious advertising to sensitise parents. I see a lot of parents with their wards here, following up their schools.
“It is a gradual progression from the point of not being aware to the point of what benefits it gives; opportunities it gives to children and opportunities it will provide for the Nigerian child; making them to lead their dreams. We are the ones providing the particular balance of coping with their dreams and their education. From the grassroots, they get internationally exposed as we carry all the parastatals along also”.
Many of the athletes went home with several medals, eyeing higher competitions and international exposures.
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