By Isaiah Eka

Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom says the development of grassroots sports remains a cardinal point in the Arise Agenda of his administration.

Eno said this in his remarks at a news conference to kick-start the MTN Champs Season 3 holding at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, acknowledged the vision of MTN Champs in discovering young talents at the grassroots.

He said the state government had concluded plans to establish a sports academy to discover and nurture talents that will represent the state and country in Olympics.

“We have a mandate to develop sports from the grassroots. Let me also use this opportunity to say that we are also planning the state-of-the-art Sports Academy.

“That is what MTN is doing. It is not enough to discover these talents, but they must be nurtured, give them the benefit of education.

“Whether you like it or not after 10 to 12 years sports will leave you, it is that education that will sustain you,” Eno said.

Eno urged all athletes to compete with the spirit of sportsmanship and win clean to become future champions.

He commended MTN for organising the championship for the discovery of future talents and urged other multinational organisations to emulate their good example.

“We want to thank MTN again and call on other multinationals to emulate MTN example.

“Government alone cannot do it. Sports is so capital intensive, governments alone cannot develop sports, we need sponsors in this project to achieve our goals and ideals,” he said.

Earlier, Emmamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communications, MTN Nigeria said that MTN Champs Season 3 is expected to produce talents that will represent Nigeria in future Olympics.

Ogoro said that investing in grassroots sports development is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to give back the society.

She said the MTN Champs that began in 2023 had over 15, 000 athletes across 900 schools participating in the event overtime.

“The dream of having Nigeria on the world stage is a strong vision that we hope to accomplish.

“Two seasons ago, previously in 2023, the MTN Champs dream was born, and overtime, we’ve had over 15, 000 athletes across 900 schools participating in this event.

“We stand for progress for Nigerians, and looking into grassroots development is the foreground of supporting all our youngsters to pursue their dreams.

“It gladdens my heart that at these events, we’re beginning to see people breaking their personal records and having records of about 10 seconds,”
Ogoro said.

She called on Akwa Ibom residents to come out en-masse to support the young athletes in the three-day competition and cheer them to victory.

She said, “The goal is that in the next one year, they should start attending international competitions. And from there in preparation for the Olympics, we should see Nigeria in the USA or in Mexico, representing Nigeria fully.”

Callimo Inino, Regional General Manager, Operations, East, MTN Nigeria said that MTN Champs season three, promises to be exciting.

According to him, the event started in Benin City with over 2, 000 athletes, Lagos with over 6, 000 entries from over 2, 505 athletics representing 155 secondary schools, the highest number of schools ever registered in MTN Champs.

“At MTN, we take pride in creating opportunities, supporting young talent, empowering Nigerian children, and building a future where dreams are not only imagined, but also realised and actualised.”

“Every champion has a story, and every story must be nurtured. And that is what we are doing here. Beyond connectivity, we nurture lives and aspirations.

“MTN Champs was built with a clear vision to discover and nurture young, athletes, with goal of building future Olympians for Nigeria,” he said.

Olabisi Joseph, President, Nigeria Sports Schools Foundation (NSSF), said that sports is a tool to move the young ones from social vices to productive ventures.

She urged parents to allow their children to participate in sporting activities as it would train them to be disciplined and mould their characters for the future.

“Sports is a tool to move our kids from social vices, here their energy is being used for a very productive outcome like the MTN Champs.

“These children as they participate in sports, they are also being educated because when you participate in sports it motivates and stimulates value.