May 08, (THEWILL) – The grand finale of MTN Champs season 03 is underway in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, and the event has already seen a significant increase in the number of Most Valuable Participants (MVPs) compared to previous seasons.
Interviews conducted by THEWILL with several athletes reveal that many participants have achieved new personal best records during the course of this event.
Chukwuma Faith, representing Osadenis Mixed Secondary School in Asaba, Delta State, shared her experience. Although she was not an MVP in Benin, she was determined to travel to Uyo with the goal of achieving a better race time and securing a top-two finish.
“I ran the 100-meter heat 2 in 12.09 seconds, a new personal best,” she stated. “I want to achieve another personal best in the semi-final. I am very happy with this new personal best because it’s a significant improvement for me.”
She further explained, “I was an MVP at the Calabar U17 event when I had just started athletics. My coach encouraged me to go there, believing I could improve my times. When I arrived, only my 200-meter time was recorded, at 26.49 seconds, which was quite slow for me. I remained determined and continued training until I achieved this 12.09 today.”
Another athlete, Khalil Saleh, who participated in the 100-meter heat, reported a significant improvement. His previous best time before the Uyo event was 11.43 seconds, but he achieved 11.23 seconds in the current competition.
“I am so happy about this improvement,” Saleh said. “Coming from Abuja and participating in MTN Champs for the first time has been a real game-changer for me.”
He added, “Being an MVP here is because the coaches evaluated our performances and rated us highly. I was selected as an MVP from the Abuja grand final in season 1. I’m happy to be here running for MTN Champs.”
Emmamoke Ogoro, the General Manager for Brand and Communications at MTN Nigeria, stated that the vision behind MTN Champs from its inception was clear: to discover, develop, and celebrate the next generation of Nigerian athletic champions, a vision that has successfully materialised over the years.
She emphasised that MTN believes in providing young Nigerians with a platform to excel, not only in local fields but also on global stages.
“MTN Champs is more than just a competition; it’s a movement, a pipeline, and a promise,” Ogoro affirmed.
Addressing the participants, she said, “To our athletes: you are all champions, regardless of the results. To our coaches, families, and schools: thank you for nurturing greatness. And to our partners and fans: thank you for believing in the dream.”
