2,505 athletes to compete as MTN athletics championship holds in Lagos

At least 2,505 athletes from over 150 secondary schools and athletics clubs will compete in the 2025 Lagos Continental Relay. 

The event will be held at the Yabatech and University of Lagos (UNILAG) sports complexes from April 9 to 12.

The Lagos Continental Relay is the continuation of the third season of MTN Champs, which started in Benin, Edo, last month.

Over 1,598 male and 907 female athletes have registered to participate in 6,298 events at the Relay.

International athletes from the Republic of Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire will also participate in senior races.

Athletes will compete in a range of track and field events, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, relays, high jump, and long jump,  in four age categories: Cadet (U-14), Youth (U-17), Junior (U-20), and Senior.

Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, MTN Nigeria’s chief marketing officer, said the competition will “transform and inspire the future of athletes and athletics in Nigeria”.

“At MTN, we remain committed to supporting the dreams and aspirations of Nigeria, not only through innovative products, but involvement in socially impactful initiatives especially in football and athletics,” she said.

The grand finale of MTN Champs season three will be held in Uyo from April 30 to May 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

MTN Champs was launched in 2023 to discover and develop young athletic talent across Nigeria. The championship aims to invest in the future of Nigerian youth through mentorship, development programs, and scholarships, identifying talent at the grassroots and supporting the emergence of Nigeria’s next generation of sporting champions.

In 2024, 20 young athletes recognised as the top performers of the first two seasons of the MTN Champs were enrolled on a one-year scholarship in a Lagos-based academy.