Schools and parents have been urged to play more active roles in nurturing children’s sporting talents as stakeholders in Nigeria’s athletics ecosystem intensify efforts to build a sustainable pathway from grassroots sports to global competition.
The call was made by the General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria Plc, Emamoke Ogoro, during the grand finale of MTN Champs Season 4 held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Ogoro said the initiative, now in its first full competitive season, had recorded steady and meaningful growth, adding that the programme was already transforming school athletics through structured talent identification and development.
According to her, young athletes from different parts of the country have been discovered, placed in structured training academies, and supported to improve performance, with several recording personal bests and gaining exposure to both national and international competitions.
She described MTN Champs as one of the most important athletics platforms in Nigeria, noting that it has gained recognition among international scouts who now use it as a reference point for identifying emerging talents.
Ogoro also disclosed that the increasing participation of athletes from countries such as Ethiopia and Ghana reflects the growing credibility and regional relevance of the championship, adding that one of the participating athletes has qualified for the World Relays in Botswana later this year.
She said MTN, in collaboration with the National School Sports Federation (NSSF) and other stakeholders, is strengthening the pathway from school sports to national and international exposure.
“A major part of our strategy involves continuous sensitisation of schools and parents. Many parents are now beginning to understand the value of structured sports development, especially within academic environments,” she said.
Ogoro stressed that the initiative is designed not only for competition but also for broader youth development, including discipline, education, and life skills, noting that the aim is to ensure that children can pursue sporting careers without compromising their education.
She explained that athletes are identified early at the grassroots level, trained within structured systems, exposed to competitions, and gradually transitioned to higher levels of performance.
According to her, the programme is also aligned with major international competitions, including the World Relays, African Championships in Ghana, and other continental events, which provide progressive exposure for selected athletes.
Ogoro said the focus on sprint and selected middle-distance events is based on Nigeria’s comparative strengths, while noting that expansion into other disciplines will follow as the system matures.
She urged young athletes to remain focused and take advantage of available opportunities, adding that competitions such as MTN Champs also serve as scouting platforms for international scholarships, particularly from universities in the United States.
“This means every competition is an opportunity for global exposure,” she said, while also calling on parents to support their children’s participation in sports programmes.
Nigeria, she noted, has a youthful population with immense potential, adding that with the right structure and support, young athletes can compete successfully at global levels.
Also speaking, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Making of Champions (MoC), Bambo Akani, said the championship recorded 3,220 athletes, 365 teams, and about 200 secondary schools, with over 8,000 event entries, describing it as one of the largest school-based athletics competitions in the world.
Akani said the initiative had reached nearly 6,000 athletes in the current season and about 30,000 cumulatively, adding that participation has grown across all geopolitical zones of the country.
He said the programme focuses on sprint, jump, and selected middle-distance events, while prioritising age-appropriate development for secondary school athletes.
Also, Plateau State Coordinator, Sports, Ministry of Education, David Bot Danboyi, commended MTN for investing in youth sports development, describing the initiative as a platform that reduces idleness and creates opportunities for young people between the ages of 12 and 20.
He called for the inclusion of long-distance races such as marathons and cross-country events to accommodate athletes with endurance strengths.
Danboyi expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the championship, noting that participants were well coordinated throughout the event.
