20 Athletes across the four locations have made it to the final selection phase from the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final, with 10 of them set to make it into the MoC Academy sponsored by MTN.
The journey of eight weeks across four different cities finally hit a fitting climax at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Sunday, 3rd December 2023.
Nearly 800 athletes competed at the MTN CHAMPS Grand Final, including 43 Most Valuable Performers (MVPs) drawn respectively from the Benin, Uyo, and Ibadan legs of the competition.
Foundation School Rules Abuja Grand Final
For the Abuja leg, Foundation Science emerged winners in the Cadet (U-14) Girls’ category, topping the table with 63 points to finish ahead of Nigerian Tulip International (33 points) and Army Day (16 points).
However, Army Day bounced back in the Cadet Boys with 38 points to beat Doveland International (34 points) and Foundation Science (33 points).
Nigerian Tulip International dominated the Youth (U-17) Girls’ category with 60 points. They were followed by Army Day (33 points) and Zuba Government Secondary School (30 points).
Chosen International was the team to beat in the Youth Boys category with 40 points. Foundation Science 2nd with 37 points, and Doveland International 3rd with 35 points.
Team MVP emerged as the top team in the Junior (U-23) category with 279 points, followed by Coach Felix Academics (116 points) and Karu Government Day which scored 82 points.
MTN CHAMPS Grand Final: Abuja MVPs Emerge
The six MVPs and four ‘Golden Performers’ from MTN CHAMPS Abuja were unveiled at the end of the competition.
Team MVP’s pair Faidah Abdulhamed and Lucky Ebe emerge as MVPs of the Cadet Girls’ and Boys’ categories respectively. Abdulhamed claimed a Silver medal in the 100m and a Bronze in the 200m. On his part, Ebe, a hearing-impaired athlete, stormed to victory in the sprint double to earn a place on the list.
Nigerian Tulip International’s Miracle Ezechukwu was unbeaten across the Youth Girls’ 100m and 200m and named MVP in that category. Hamza Dalhatu of Makkah Academy emerged as Youth Boys’ MVP, courtesy of his Silver medal in the 200m.
Dynamic’s Comfort Sule secured her spot as Junior Girls’ MVP after racing to a Bronze medal in the 200m. Osama Chibueze beat all his competitors in the Junior Boys 100m and 200m, striking GOLD in both events to become Junior Boys’ MVP.
Furthermore, the four Golden Performers were Chizoba Gift Onyemauwa who won 400m GOLD and 200m Silver in the Cadet Girls’ category, Fervent Imoh who secured 200m Silver and 100m Bronze, also in the Cadet category, Chigozie Kanu who won double Silver in the 100m and 200m in the Youth Girls’ category, and Khalil Saleh who raced to a 100m Silver in the Youth Boys class.
Top Dignitaries Steps Out For Youngsters
Meanwhile, the event had several dignitaries in attendance, including MTN Director – Mrs Ifueko Omogui; MTN General Manager, Brand and Communications – Emamoke Ogoro; MTN Senior Manager Public Policy, Corporate Relations – Anas Galadima; MTN Senior Manager Go to Market – Osaze Ebueku, and Acting Regional General Manager North West Region – Ohwofasa Obazenu.
Others were the Special Adviser on Economic Affairs in the office of the Vice President of Nigeria – Tope Fasua; President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Chief Tonobok Okowa; President of Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) – Mrs Olabisi Joseph, and Chairman, Making of Champions (MoC) Board of Directors – Engr. Olu Akani.