The final day of the Lagos leg of MTN CHAMPS Season 3 closed with thrilling sprint finishes and emotional wins at the UNILAG Sports Complex, where some of the competition’s brightest young talents delivered strong performances in the 100m Youth Boys and Girls categories.
For Enyi Chimamanda Emmanuella of Abeokuta Girls Grammar School, the day ended with a gold medal and a surprise breakthrough. “I feel happy. I didn’t know that I could even make it,” she said. “All my hope is just on God. MTN is the best and thank you for the opportunity; this is my first time winning a medal.”
Raimi Suliat and Ikudeginbu Happiness completed the podium, placing second and third, respectively.
In the boys’ final, it was Adegboyega Boluwatife of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary who shocked himself and the field with a win he almost didn’t believe. “I honestly thought I came second, but when they checked the time, I had come first. I’m very thankful to MTN. This is my first time competing too.”, he said.
The finals brought a rousing close to a four-day event that saw over 2,500 entries from 155 schools across Nigeria and West Africa. Hosted at both the UNILAG Sports Complex and Yaba College of Technology, MTN CHAMPS Lagos became a celebration of speed, strength, and the promise of young athletes.
“This competition enables us to detect raw talent from these students,” said the Director of Sports for Education District IV, who was on ground to support her school athletes. “We are very grateful to MTN and we don’t want it to end like this.”
The Lagos leg also drew attention for its inclusiveness and scale. Athletes competed across four age categories, including Cadet, Youth, Junior, and Senior in sprints, relays, jumps, and distance events. Notably, athletes from Benin Republic, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire also took part, adding a continental nuance to the competition.
MTN’s involvement was widely commended, particularly during the closing ceremony held at the Yabatech Sports Complex. “MTN is not just a telecom giant, they are a transformational partner in nation building.” said Lekan Fatodu, DG of the Lagos State Sports Commission, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
That sentiment was echoed by Ugonwa Nwoye, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Customer Relations Officer. “Beyond medals and victories, we’ve built something bigger; a moment that says to every young person, ‘you are seen, and your future is full of possibilities.’”
As Lagos wrapped up, attention now shifts to the MTN CHAMPS Season 3 Grand Finale in Uyo, scheduled for April 30 to May 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. For now, the memories from UNILAG of cheers, breakthroughs, and the roar of the crowd linger as the athletes prepare for the next big stage.