The Delta State Government has pledged to partner with MTN Champs Season 2 and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to discover the abundant talents in the state.

MTN Champs is a secondary school competition designed to ignite the talent of youths aged between 14 and 21 years.

The four-day athletic talent hunt, which kicks off on Saturday (today), will be held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta.

The state Commissioner for Youths Development, Dr Isaac Aggbateyiniro, who stated this while addressing journalists on Friday in Asaba, said that the state government was committed to sports development.

He said that the MTN Champs competition was a process that would span through more seasons.

The commissioner said that it was aimed at catching the students young and giving them the opportunity to discover their talents.

He noted that it was not surprising that the organisers of the competition, MTN, chose Delta in its season two competition, adding that Delta remained a home of talents, particularly in sports.

He said, “Let me commend the organisers of this event, “MTN Champs.” Sometime ago, it was season one, but today it is season two. As a state, sports development occupies the mind of my principal, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who had encapsulated sports development in his M.O.R.E. Agenda.’’

Also speaking, President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, said that the competition would also help prepare athletes for African championships.

He said that athletic trials would not only help in discovering young athletes but would also help in training them, particularly the home-based athletes, for the coming African Games and Olympics.

According to him, AFN is abreast of the activities and happenings of the MTN talent hunt in athletics and is willing to support it.

Senior Manager, Brand, Media, and Sponsorship, MTN-Nigeria, Friday Okuwe, said MTN Champs Season one came with lots of expositions, adding that about 7,000 athletes participated then.

Mr Okuwe said that it was part of its corporate responsibilities, targeted at reawakening the talent in young adults from the grassroots.

He said that about 1,000 students would participate in the competition in Delta.

According to him, about 100 schools have enlisted for the competition in the state, out of which the top 10 winners will be selected and taken to an academy for further training.

He noted that the winners would be exposed to other opportunities that could earn them scholarships at the end, making them world champions.

“MTN Champs is a first-class athletics event where MTN is partnering to make champions and future Olympians who will shine on the international stage and stand a chance to win scholarships.

“We know that Nigeria is full of raw talents; we need to give them the right platform and the opportunity to showcase their skills and be discovered. This is what MTN Champs is all about, and it is modelled after the Jamaican secondary school championship to train them in athletics.

He said that the athletic trials for season two will be held in Asaba, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt.

The students will compete in 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump, and relay at the five-day event. 

(NAN)