Jos, the Plateau State capital, came alive at the weekend as the fourth season of the MTN Champs athletics competition ended on a high note, with young talents from across Nigeria showcasing exceptional performances.

The three-day event attracted about 1,000 athletes drawn from schools in Nigeria, all competing for a share of the N20 million prize pool.

The event reinforced MTN Nigeria’s commitment to grassroots sports development and youth empowerment.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Saturday, the Chief Customer Experience and Relations Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ugonwa Nwoye, described the competition as an inspiring display of talent, resilience and professionalism.

“As the event comes to an end, I must say I will truly miss it. It has gone exceptionally well over the past three days. Competitors pushed themselves to the limit, achieving personal bests despite challenging weather conditions,” she said.

Nwoye commended officials, coaches and government representatives for ensuring a seamless competition, noting that the level of organisation contributed significantly to the success recorded.

“While some participants were understandably disappointed, many achieved personal bests. It has been inspiring to watch these young athletes push themselves to the limit,” she added.

The competition featured a wide range of track and field events, including the 100m 200m, 400m and 1,500m races, as well as field events such as high jump, long jump, javelin throw and shot put.

Athletes posted impressive times, with several meeting qualification standards for international competitions.

One of the standout moments was recorded in the junior women’s 100 metres, where the winner, Miracle, posted the fastest time by any Nigerian female athlete this year, underlining the high standard of the competition.

Organisers noted that the MTN Champs series, which rotates across different geopolitical zones, has become a vital platform for discovering and nurturing young talents.

They insist that the Jos event, tagged the Continental Relays, was exceptional.

Beyond competition, the initiative also functions as a talent development pipeline.

Outstanding athletes identified during the series will be offered scholarships to train at the Making of Champions Athletics Academy in Lagos, where they will receive professional coaching and access to modern facilities.

According to the Operations Manager of Making of Champions, Moshood Hassan, about 30 athletes have already benefited from the programme over the past three seasons, with plans to select an additional 10 top performers this year.

He added that some beneficiaries are already representing Nigeria at international events, including the African Junior Championships and other global competitions.

Nwoye expressed optimism ahead of future editions, particularly the upcoming finals in Ibadan, stressing the need for broader participation.

“I would love to see even greater participation from athletes across different parts of the country,” she said, reiterating MTN’s long-term vision of producing world-class athletes capable of representing Nigeria on the global stage, including at the Olympics.

The N20m prize money were allocated to the winning teams and schools including Bishops College, Buken Academy, St. Theresa’s Girls College, Redeemed People’s Academy, Government Secondary School, Township, Command Secondary School, and others.