Making of Champions and MTN have signed a landmark three-year extension for MTN CHAMPS to continue sponsoring Nigeria’s premier grassroots athletics through the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
The historic partnership was announced at a press conference on February 11 at the MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The multi-year agreement confirms that MTN CHAMPS Seasons 4, 5, and 6 are now certain through 2028.
The extension will provide athletes across all age groups, from Cadet and Youth to Junior and Senior, with a structured three-year runway to support long-term preparation toward the 2028 Olympic Games, the 2026 and 2028 World U20 Championships, and other continental and global competitions.
MoC Founder and CEO, Bambo Akani, describes the renewal as transformational for Nigerian athletics.
“This is an absolutely monumental and historic move by MTN. Never in the history of Nigeria have athletes across all age groups had such certainty of a multi-year runway to prepare for international, continental, and national competitions all the way to the Olympic Games.
How Season 4 of MTN CHAMPS will Hold:
- MTN CHAMPS Athletics Classics – Calabar: March 5–7, 2026
- MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays – Jos: March 26–28, 2026
- MTN CHAMPS Grand Final – Ibadan: April 15–18, 2026
MoC hinted at the possibility of Calabar and Jos meets playing a key role in Nigeria’s preparation ahead of the 2026 World Relays, with the AFN, according to the president, Tonobok Okowa, is making plans to take Team Nigeria to qualify in those events.
“I have had the opportunity to attend some of the editions of MTN CHAMPS and the organisers have been doing very well. The impact has been evident, and we look forward to the role MTN CHAMPS will continue to play over the next three years in preparing our athletes for competitions on the continental and global stage.”
Significantly, Ibadan will host the Grand Final and is projected to be the largest gathering in the competition’s history.
MoC also unveiled 10 new athletes into the MoC Athletics Academy following their standout performances at MTN CHAMPS Season 3.
The newly inducted athletes, Victory Aganya, Emmanuel Akolo, Michael Aniche, Rebecca Enilolobo, Chidimma Esomonu, Abdulfatah Oduwole, Nneoma Okonkwo, Mighty Otunola, Destiny Reuben, and Kehinde Seriki, join the 20 athletes previously recruited from Seasons 1 and 2, bringing the Academy’s roster to a record 30 athletes as it strengthens Nigeria’s sprint and quarter-mile development pipeline through 2028.
Three-year extension for MTN CHAMPS
Further reinforcing the ecosystem, Beacon Power Services (BPS) announced a parallel three-year student-athlete scholarship agreement with MoC Academy, providing full educational and performance support through 2028 for Rebecca Enilolobo and Destiny Reuben.
The agreement deepens corporate-backed athlete development in Nigeria and brings the total number of fully supported athletes at the Academy to 22 out of the 30 for the current Olympic cycle.
Furthermore, the other eight are now available for corporate sponsorship from other brands.
Background And Success
Since its launch in 2023, MTN CHAMPS has grown into Nigeria’s largest secondary school athletics competition, attracting over 22,000 athletes from 1,300 schools across eight cities nationwide.
Athletes discovered during MTN CHAMPS Seasons 1 and 2 who joined the MoC Academy — with MTN as Title Sponsor — went on to secure 10 international medals and 14 national medals in 2025 within just one year of entering the structured and focused development environment, demonstrating the early return on investment by MTN in a long-term talent development model.
In addition, MTN has confirmed continued sponsorship of 20 athletes annually at the MoC Academy through the 2028 Olympic cycle, reinforcing a clear pathway from grassroots discovery to elite international representation.
