By The highly anticipated MTN Champs is set to return for its third season in 2025, with events scheduled across three Nigerian cities—Benin City, Lagos, and Uyo. This grassroots athletics competition, launched in 2023, aims to identify and develop young Nigerian track and field athletes, providing them with world-class training opportunities.
Hon. Desmond Amadin Enebulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, speaking on behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo, reaffirmed the Edo State Government’s full support for the initiative. “His Excellency is deeply committed to grassroots sports development. One of his visions is to ‘go into communities, identify and develop athletes, and make them world-class competitors.’ This is precisely what MTN is achieving today,” he stated.
MTN Champs has already begun delivering on its promise of discovering Nigeria’s next track and field stars. Three of its 20 Most Valuable Players (MVPs) from previous seasons—Onyeneho Jane Chioma, Showers Ushie, and Prosper Ushie—have progressed to the elite Making of Champions (MoC) Academy.
Reflecting on her journey, Jane Chioma said:
“I was discovered at MTN Champs in 2023. Now, in 2025, I’m returning not just as a competitor but as one of the top MVPs. Training under Olympic medalist Coach Deji Aliu at the MoC Academy has been a dream come true.”
Similarly, Showers Ushie, who competed in Benin City in 2023, emphasized the competition’s impact:
“Being selected as one of the top 10 MVPs and training at the academy has been incredible. My older brother introduced me to this opportunity, and now I’m back to compete in the 100m senior category.”
For Prosper Ushie, the journey was even more personal:
“At first, my dad didn’t want me to compete—he thought having two sons in athletics was enough. But I stayed focused, won bronze in the junior boys’ 400m, and earned a place at the MoC Academy. The training and support from MTN and MoC have changed my life.”
Modelled after Jamaica’s High School CHAMPS, MTN Champs has become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s talent development pipeline. Season 3 is set to be the biggest yet, with over 7,000 athletes from nearly 500 schools and teams expected to participate.
The competition includes four categories—Cadet, Youth, Junior, and Senior—ensuring wide participation from students to adult athletes. Real-time results and team scores will be available via the Roster Athletics app, keeping fans, coaches, and athletes informed throughout the event.
