The National Athletics Trials kicking off today at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos have placed the MTN CHAMPS initiative firmly in the spotlight, with 17 athletes developed through the programme’s grassroots talent identification system set to compete for spots on Nigeria’s senior national teams from June 20 to 22, 2026.
The trials serve as the official qualification championship for national team selection, and the presence of 17 Team MTN athletes underscores the effectiveness of the pipeline that has transformed from a school-based discovery platform into a proven pathway to international competition.
Brandspur Brand News understands that leading the contingent is MTN CHAMPS Ambassador Emmanuel Ojeli, alongside Ezekiel Asuquo and Toheebat Jimoh, both of whom return from gold-medal-winning performances with Team Nigeria at the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana.
The full Team MTN roster features Lucy Nwankwo, Azeezat Raji-Muhammed, and Mercy Ogbonna in the women’s 100m and 200m events, while Toheebat Jimoh, Miracle Uwem Donald, and Patience Joseph are entered in the women’s 400m.
In the men’s sprints, Showers Ushie, Kabiru Mohammed, Emmanuel Akolo, Alvin Onyeama, and Emmanuel Oyewale will represent the team in the 100m and 200m, while the men’s 400m lineup includes Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Asuquo, Benjamin Magaji, Stephen Adejumo, Michael Aniche, and Prosper Ushie.
The athletes arrive at the trials on the back of a remarkable MTN CHAMPS Season 4 campaign, during which Team MTN secured 63 medals overall, comprising 25 gold, 25 silver, and 13 bronze across three competition locations, with six gold medals in Calabar, 12 in Jos, and seven at the Ibadan Grand Final.
Ezekiel Asuquo delivered a standout performance in Season 4 with a gold medal in the junior men’s 400m, clocking 47.49 seconds, before adding another gold in the 200m with a time of 21.39 seconds, while Toheebat Jimoh continued her ascent with decisive contributions to Nigeria’s mixed 4x400m and women’s 4x400m successes in Accra.
Since its inception, the MTN CHAMPS programme has attracted participation from more than 22,000 athletes and over 1,300 schools across Nigeria, with dozens of exceptional talents discovered and absorbed into the MoC Athletics Academy, where they have gone on to win multiple national and international medals.
The 17 athletes competing at the Lagos trials represent the strength of the development pipeline MTN CHAMPS has built, demonstrating that grassroots investment in athletics can produce athletes capable of competing and excelling on the continental and global stage.
