Three athletes from Team MTN delivered an impressive performance for Nigeria at the recently concluded African U18 and U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta, contributing five medals in total: two gold, one silver and two bronze. Making their international debuts, these young talents not only stood out on the podium but demonstrated what’s possible when grassroots athletes receive the structure and support needed to thrive. Toheebat Jimoh, Lucy Nwankwo and Ezekiel Asuquo, all standout MVPs from MTN CHAMPS Seasons 1 and 2 and current athletes at the MoC Athletics Academy, rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion. Their stories are not just about medals, but about grit, determination and growth. This year, MTN also served as one of the official sponsors of the CAA African U18 and U20 Athletics Championships, building the company’s long-standing partnership with the National Sports Commission and deepening our commitment to the development of athletics in Nigeria. The sponsorship reflects MTN’s continued investment in creating opportunities for young athletes and building Nigeria’s next generation of Olympians. For Jimoh, it was a dream debut. After starting the 400m events only this year, she delivered a powerful performance to take bronze in the individual 400m with a personal best of 53.00s, just behind fellow Nigerians Favour Onyah and Anita Enaruna who won gold and silver respectively, completing a Nigerian 1-2-3. She went on to claim a second medal, anchoring the team to gold in the U20 women’s 4x400m relay alongside Odot Udo, Enaruna and Onyah with a time of 3:37.02. Nwankwo, another Team MTN athlete, proved unstoppable. After narrowly missing a medal in the 100m, she came back with renewed focus to claim bronze in the U20 women’s 200m with a time of 24.24s, behind teammates Success Oyibu and Chioma Cynthia Nweke. She also led Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team to gold, running a strong first leg that set the tone for their 45.58s finish. Ezekiel Asuquo, who had only broken the 46-second barrier once before, stunned the field with a personal best of 45.83s to win silver in the men’s 400m. Going into the race, his only hope was to win a medal. Exiting with a silver and a huge PB was a moment of personal vindication, and national pride. These achievements are more than numbers on a medal table. They reflect the impact of structured support. Just one year ago, these athletes were competing at school-level events. Thanks to their discovery through the MTN CHAMPS platform and the training provided at the MoC Athletics Academy, they’ve gone from grassroots hopefuls to international medalists. This year’s Championships also highlighted the depth of Nigeria’s youth talent. 70 percent of the country’s 92-athlete squad were selected from Season 3 of MTN CHAMPS, with 85 percent having competed in the series since its inception, and 21 percent named MVPs at various Grand Finals. It is a clear sign that CHAMPS is not just a pipeline; it is already shaping the future of Nigerian athletics. As the domestic season winds down, all eyes now turn to the Senior National Trials next week, which will serve as the final selection for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Ten Team MTN athletes are expected to compete at the Trials in their yellow and black kits, ready to close out what has been a breakthrough year for MTN-backed grassroots athletes. Their success has made one thing clear: when athletes are given consistent, long-term support — whether by the private sector or government — the results follow. These young athletes have shown that the future of Nigerian athletics is bright, but only if the momentum continues.