Yusuf Alli: MTN CHAMPS will unearth future champions for Nigeria

Former Commonwealth Games champion and chairman of Edo state Sports Commission, long jumper Yusuf Alli says Edo state is ready to host the first leg of the MTN CHAMPS which starts Thursday and run through Saturday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

Alli, a one time World Athletics Championships finalist and World University Games champion, said at the pre-championships press briefing on Wednesday that MTN has thrown its weight behind an event that will is set to unearth future champions for Nigeria.

‘On behalf of the Edo State government, I must thank you all for coming to Benin, and I welcome you to our stadium, one of the finest in the
country, and with one of the fastest tracks too. When I heard about this initiative, I was happy, because this is what we’ve been looking for, to partner
with anything that has to do with schools.

‘Having 7000 athletes participate in this programme nationwide is huge, and I will appeal that a database is kept of all participants in order to curb age-
cheating.

‘I’m looking forward to the MTN Academy. MTN have one of the best networks in this country so I’m sure the academy will be one of the best. I don’t
want MTN to leave Athletics and focus on football.

‘We have a lot of football academies in Nigeria, so please, stick with Athletics – to run, jump and throw,’ said the man who still owns the Nigerian long jump record at 8m 27 set over 34 years ago in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Oluseye Odunsi, MTN’s Senior Manager, Sales and Trade Distribution (West), has pointed out the motivation behind MTN’s sponsorship of the historic championship which will be unveiled across four cities, including Uyo, Ibadan and Abuja.

‘MTN Nigeria decided to foster brand loyalty by sponsoring the MTN School Championships also known as MTN CHAMPS. This is the first of its kind,
starting with Benin, and we’re going to three other locations – Uyo, Ibadan and Abuja. MTN CHAMPS is an initiative to drive educational development among our
youth and also to foster a to-do spirit of sports as well’.

‘The outcome of this competition is to bring out future champions who will participate in the Olympics, World Championships and other events across the
world.

‘The top 10 athletes from this programme will join the MTN Academy where they will be trained and educated, and also be presented with the opportunity
of scholarships both from Jamaica and the US. It’s a privilege partnering with you on this programme,’ he said.