MTN Rewards CHAMPS Stars Asuquo, Nwankwo, Jimoh with ₦1m Each

MTN Nigeria has rewarded three products of its CHAMPS athletics programme, Ezekiel Asuquo, Lucy Nwankwo and Toheebat Jimoh, with ₦1 million each following their impressive progression from grassroots competition to the national and international stage.

The trio were received by MTN Nigeria Chief Marketing Officer, Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, at the company’s head office in Ikoyi, Lagos, on August 19, where their performances since the conclusion of Season 4 of MTN CHAMPS were celebrated.

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

Nwankwo, meanwhile, won two individual gold medals at the CAA U18/U20 Region II Championships in Dakar before representing Nigeria at the World U20 Championships.

Emeka urged the young athletes to take time to appreciate their achievements and the progress they have made in their careers.

‘Sometimes, in the pursuit of excellence, we get so focused on the next goal that we forget to acknowledge how far we have come. It is important to pause, reflect on our achievements and appreciate the opportunities that have shaped our journey,’ she said.

Asuquo expressed gratitude to MTN CHAMPS and MoC Academy for providing him with the platform and support to develop his talent and compete internationally.

‘I’m grateful for the opportunity MTN CHAMPS and MoC Academy have given me to develop my talent and compete at the international level,’ Asuquo said, recalling how his coaches identified his potential early and encouraged him to remain disciplined and committed.

The financial reward, according to MTN Nigeria, was presented in recognition of the athletes’ achievements and their continued commitment to athletics.

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

Athletes who have emerged through the programme have gone on to compete at major national, continental and international competitions, including the World Athletics Relays, African Senior Championships, Nigerian Championships, Commonwealth Games Trials, CAA Region II Championships and World U20 Championships.