By Adeola Badru

IBADAN — The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development and grassroots sports as the city prepares to host the grand finale of Season 4 of the MTN Champs, with over 3,200 athletes expected from across Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, disclosed this during a media briefing ahead of the three-day championship scheduled to hold from April 14 to 17, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Adegoke said arrangements had been concluded to accommodate athletes, officials, and spectators, noting that the event aligns with the state’s broader agenda of youth empowerment and sports development.

“The Oyo State Government is fully committed to providing an enabling environment for programmes like this to thrive. We see sports as a critical tool for youth engagement, talent discovery, and socio-economic development,” she said.

She added that the government would continue to support initiatives aimed at identifying and nurturing young talents, expressing confidence that the championship would further position the state as a hub for sporting excellence.

“We are proud to partner with stakeholders to host this grand finale. We believe many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria on the global stage,” Adegoke stated.

Earlier, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Making of Champions, Bambo Akani, revealed that 3,200 athletes, 215 schools, and 325 teams had registered for the competition.

Akani described the championship as a vital platform for discovering and developing young athletic talents, noting that several standout performers from previous editions are already benefiting from scholarship opportunities abroad.

“Some of the athletes discovered from earlier editions are currently on full scholarships in schools in the United States. This shows the impact of what we are building,” he said.

He expressed optimism that participants from the MTN Champs initiative would continue to excel in international competitions.

“We are not just organising competitions; we are building future champions. I strongly believe many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria with distinction globally,” Akani added.

The Season 4 grand finale of the MTN Champs is expected to attract athletes, coaches, sports enthusiasts, and key stakeholders in a highly competitive event focused on excellence and opportunity in athletics.