The Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, on Monday, reiterated the state government’s commitment to youth development and grassroots sports as Ibadan prepares to host the grand finale of MTN Champs Season 4, which is expected to draw over 3,200 athletes from across Nigeria.
She stated this during a press briefing held at Jericho, Ibadan, ahead of a three-day championship scheduled to take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Adegoke explained that the state government had made adequate preparations to host athletes, officials and spectators, emphasising that the competition aligns with its broader agenda of youth empowerment and sports development.
MTN Champs is a track and field competition set to discover outstanding athletes from schools across Nigeria.
The Season 4 Grand Finale, scheduled to run from April 14 to April 17, 2026, is expected to bring together young athletes, coaches, sports enthusiasts and key stakeholders in a competitive atmosphere aimed at promoting excellence and opportunity in athletics.
The commissioner said, “The state government is fully committed to providing an enabling environment for programmes like this to thrive. We see sports as a critical tool for youth engagement, talent discovery and socio-economic development.
“The government would continue to support initiatives that identify and nurture young talents. The championship would further position the state as a hub for sporting excellence.
“The government is proud to partner with stakeholders to host this grand finale. We believe that many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria on the global stage.”
Earlier, the founder of Making of Champions, Bambo Akani, revealed that a total of 3,200 athletes, 215 schools and 325 teams had registered for the competition.
Akani, who described the event as a significant platform for discovering and nurturing young athletic talent, added that several standout performers from previous editions are already benefiting from international opportunities.
“Some of the talented athletes discovered from earlier editions are currently on full scholarships in various schools in the United States. This shows the impact of what we are building,” he said.
He expressed confidence that athletes discovered through the MTN Champs initiative would continue to make the country proud in international competitions.
“We are not just organising competitions; we are building future champions. I strongly believe that many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria with distinction at global events,” Akani added.
