Oyo State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke, has once again assured that the state remains focused on empowering young people and promoting sports at the grassroots level as Ibadan gets ready to host the final stage of MTN Champs Season 4, an event expected to feature more than 3,200 competitors from across the country.
She made this known on Monday during a press interaction in Jericho, Ibadan, ahead of the competition, which will run for three days at the Lekan Salami Stadium.
According to her, the state has put everything in place to ensure a smooth experience for athletes, officials, and fans, adding that hosting such an event reflects its long-term vision of using sports as a tool to engage and uplift young people.
The MTN Champs programme focuses on discovering and developing talented young athletes from schools nationwide through track and field events.
The grand finale, scheduled from April 14 to April 17, 2026, is set to bring together athletes, coaches, sports lovers, and key stakeholders, creating a lively and competitive atmosphere that promotes growth and opportunity in athletics.
Speaking further, the commissioner said,
“The state government is fully committed to providing an enabling environment for programmes like this to thrive. We see sports as a critical tool for youth engagement, talent discovery and socio-economic development.
“The government would continue to support initiatives that identify and nurture young talents. The championship would further position the state as a hub for sporting excellence.
“The government is proud to partner with stakeholders to host this grand finale. We believe that many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria on the global stage.”
Also speaking, the founder of Making of Champions, Bambo Akani, disclosed that the event has attracted about 3,200 athletes, alongside 215 schools and 325 teams.
He described the competition as a strong pathway for identifying and nurturing young talents, noting that several athletes discovered in earlier editions have already secured opportunities abroad.
“Some of the talented athletes discovered from earlier editions are currently on full scholarships in various schools in the United States. This shows the impact of what we are building,” he said.
He added that the initiative is designed not just to host competitions but to build future stars who will excel on the global stage.
“We are not just organising competitions; we are building future champions. I strongly believe that many of these young athletes will go on to represent Nigeria with distinction at global events,” Akani added.
