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MTN Nigeria has rewarded three young athletes who emerged from its MTN CHAMPS programme with N1 million each, recognising their progress from school-level competition to representing Nigeria at major international athletics events.
The telecoms company honoured Ezekiel Asuquo, Lucy Nwankwo and Toheebat Jimoh following their performances at national, continental and international competitions since the conclusion of the fourth season of the MTN CHAMPS athletics programme.
The athletes were received by MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, at the company’s head office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The engagement was part of MTN Nigeria’s continued support for grassroots athletics and its efforts to identify and develop young sporting talent.
From School Competition to International Stage
The three athletes have made significant progress since competing through the MTN CHAMPS platform.
Asuquo and Jimoh represented Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, before contributing to Nigeria’s gold-medal performance at the African Senior Championships in Accra, Ghana.
Nwankwo, meanwhile, secured two individual gold medals at the CAA U18/U20 Region II Championships in Dakar, Senegal, before going on to compete at the World U20 Championships.
Their progression illustrates the pathway MTN CHAMPS is seeking to create for young athletes, moving promising talents from school competitions towards higher levels of national and international competition.
MTN Urges Athletes to Recognise Their Progress
Speaking during the reception, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer encouraged the athletes to reflect on their achievements rather than focusing exclusively on their next targets.
Emeka said the athletes’ progress had been shaped by both the opportunities made available to them and the discipline they brought to their development.
She urged them to appreciate the milestones already achieved as they continue pursuing higher goals in their sporting careers.
The athletes also discussed their experiences transitioning from school competitions to competing for Nigeria on the international stage.
Asuquo, in particular, credited the support received through MTN CHAMPS and MoC Academy for helping him develop his abilities and gain the confidence required to compete internationally.
N1m Cash Reward for Each Athlete
Beyond the recognition, MTN Nigeria presented N1 million to each of the three athletes in appreciation of their performances and continued commitment to athletics.
The financial reward adds to the company’s broader investment in identifying and supporting young sporting talent through its grassroots athletics initiative.
Since its launch, MTN CHAMPS has attracted more than 22,000 young athletes from over 1,500 schools, creating a pipeline for identifying, training and developing emerging talents.
Athletes who have progressed through the programme have subsequently participated in competitions including the World Athletics Relays, African Senior Championships, Nigerian Championships, Commonwealth Games Trials, Dakar regional championships and World U20 Championships.
Building Nigeria’s Next Generation of Athletes
The continued progression of athletes from school competitions to elite events highlights the importance of structured grassroots development in Nigeria’s sports ecosystem.
For MTN, the CHAMPS programme provides a platform not only for competition but also for identifying athletes with the potential to represent Nigeria at continental and global events.
The latest recognition of Asuquo, Nwankwo and Jimoh therefore underscores the company’s attempt to connect grassroots participation with longer-term athlete development.
As more young athletes emerge through the programme, MTN’s challenge will be to sustain the support structures that can help promising school athletes make the difficult transition into professional and international competition.
