MTN Nigeria celebrates CHAMPS trio with cash rewards

MTN Nigeria has rewarded three athletes from its MTN CHAMPS athletics programme with N1 million each in recognition of their outstanding performances at national, continental and international competitions.

Ezekiel Asuquo, Lucy Nwankwo and Toheebat Jimoh were recognised during a meeting with MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, at the company’s headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos, on August 19, 2026.

The recognition highlights MTN Nigeria’s continued investment in grassroots athletics and its efforts to provide young Nigerian athletes with pathways to national and international competition.

Read Also: MTN Champs star Lucy Nwankwo wins double gold for Nigeria in Dakar

CHAMPS athletes make international impact

Asuquo and Jimoh represented Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, before contributing to the country’s gold-medal success at the African Senior Championships in Accra, Ghana.

Nwankwo also enjoyed a strong run, winning two individual gold medals at the CAA U18/U20 Region II Championships in Dakar before competing at the World U20 Championships.

Speaking to the athletes, Emeka encouraged them to reflect on their progress while continuing to pursue higher goals.

“Sometimes, in the pursuit of excellence, we get so focused on the next goal that we forget to acknowledge how far we have come,” she said.

“It is important to pause, reflect on our achievements and appreciate the opportunities that have shaped our journey.”

The athletes also reflected on their development from school-level competitions to representing Nigeria on the international stage.

Asuquo credited MTN CHAMPS and MoC Academy with providing the support and platform that helped him develop his talent.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity MTN CHAMPS and MoC Academy have given me to develop my talent and compete at the international level,” he said.

“From the beginning, my coaches recognised my potential and encouraged me to remain disciplined and committed. That support helped me grow as an athlete and gave me the confidence to represent Nigeria on the global stage, which was a defining moment for me.”

MTN CHAMPS expands talent pipeline

Since its launch, MTN CHAMPS has attracted more than 22,000 young athletes from over 1,500 schools, creating a platform for talent identification, training and development.

Athletes emerging from the programme have progressed to compete at major national, continental and international competitions, including the World Athletics Relays, African Senior Championships, Nigerian Championships, Commonwealth Games trials, Dakar regional championships and World U20 Championships.

For Asuquo, Nwankwo and Jimoh, the financial reward represents recognition of their progress from grassroots competition to major international stages.

MTN Nigeria said the initiative remains focused on creating sustainable pathways for young athletes to develop their careers and compete at the highest level.