MTN Nigeria officially ushered in a new era for grassroots athletics at the Season 4 launch of MTN CHAMPS, held at the MTN Rooftop in Lagos on February 11, 2026. The event reached its pinnacle with the unveiling of exceptional young athletes to join the prestigious Making of Champions (MoC) Athletics Academy.”
While the young athletes from different states in Nigeria are eager about the initiative, the stories of Chidinma Esemonu and Destiny Reuben have emerged as great testimonials to the life-changing impact of the MTN CHAMPS initiative.
For Chidinma Esemonu, a native of Imo State, her journey in Senior Secondary School (SS1) Chidinma faced economic hardships that threatened to derail her education and her training.
“The journey wasn’t easy,” Esemonu shared during a recent interview. “In SS1, things were very tough at home. I had the passion, but the resources weren’t there. MTN CHAMPS was the door that opened when I thought all others were closing, despite the lockdown that happened in my village, and my family had to move from one place to another.’’
Her participation in the program provided her with the platform to showcase her raw speed, proving that talent can flourish even in the most challenging environments when given the right stage.
Another young athlete, Destiny Reuben from Port Harcourt, a standout performer from Season 2 of MTN CHAMPS, has quickly become a name to watch in the Under-14 category.
Reuben’s track record speaks for itself. He dominated the field in Calabar to win the 100-meter Under-14 gold, making his community proud. He followed that performance with a strong showing in Benin, securing second-place finishes in both the 100m and 200m events.
The turning point for Reuben was his induction into the MTN CHAMPS MVP program, a transition he describes as One Yes.
“Joining the MVPs changed everything about how I see the sport,” Reuben explained. “MTN didn’t just give me a race to run; they gave so much support, and I would be happy to be at least part of Olymoic 2028.”
The stories of Esemonu and Reuben are central to the mission of MTN CHAMPS to bridge the gap between grassroots talent and elite performance. By providing a structured pathway for athletes from diverse backgrounds.
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