More than 1,000 young athletes from 121 schools and teams are expected to compete in Calabar as the fourth edition of a national youth athletics championship gets underway in the Cross River State capital.
Organisers say the three-day competition will feature nearly 100 track and field events across four age categories — Under-14 (Cadet), Under-17 (Youth), Under-20 (Junior) and Senior — making it one of the largest school athletics gatherings in the country.
The championship is organised by MTN Nigeria in partnership with Making of Champions as part of efforts to expand grassroots athletics development in Nigeria.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka said since its launch in 2023, the competition has attracted over 22,000 athletes from more than 1,300 schools nationwide, staging 11 meets across eight cities before the Calabar event, which is the 12th on the circuit.
Officials of Making of Champions, Yemi Galadima, said the competition has increasingly become a pathway for identifying talent for national competitions. According to the organisers, about 80 per cent of athletes who represented Nigeria at the African Under-20 Championships last year had previously competed in the championship.
Thirty standout athletes discovered in earlier seasons are currently enrolled in a specialised academy run by the organisers. Within a year of structured training, the athletes have won 38 medals on the championship circuit, 14 national medals and 10 international medals.
Organisers also noted that performances at the Calabar meet could play a role in Nigeria’s preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the World Relays scheduled for May.
To encourage participation by schools, the organisers announced more than ₦20 million in prize money. The top four schools overall will receive ₦2 million, ₦1.5 million, ₦1 million and ₦500,000, respectively.
A separate attendance category will reward schools that mobilise the highest number of supporters at the stadium, with ₦5 million for the top school and additional prizes extending to schools placed up to the 10th position.
Representing the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Pastor Emmanuel Ebong commended the initiative, noting that it has helped strengthen discipline among student-athletes and supported efforts to curb age cheating in school sports.
He also disclosed that Nigeria will host the African School Sports Festival in 2027, expressing confidence that athletes discovered through the championship could represent the country in future continental and global competitions.
The Calabar championship is expected to run for three days, with organisers anticipating the emergence of a new crop of young talents from schools across the country.
