Ogbogbo Baptist Grammar School, Ogun State, has received ₦1.5 million from MTN Nigeria after finishing second in the fourth season of the MTN Champs athletics competition, as the telecommunications company continues to support grassroots sports development among young people, RaveNewsOnline reports.
Presenting the cheque at the school, MTN’s Senior Manager for Sales and Trade Development in Ogun State, Gbenga Olalandu, said the award recognised the students’ achievement and encouraged them to pursue sporting activities alongside their education. The company also donated sports equipment, including javelins and jerseys, to support the school’s extracurricular activities.
“We are here because we want to celebrate champions. MTN has embarked on an extracurricular sporting activity called MTN Champs, and the students of Baptist Grammar School were winners in that event,” Olalandu said.
He urged the students to combine academic excellence with sports, noting that young people could pursue successful sporting careers without neglecting their education. “You can still be Ronaldo or Messi and have a very good education, so we want them to combine both,” he said. Olalandu added that sports helped build relationships, strengthen communities and bring people together.
The school’s coach, Oluwafemi Nasirudeen, commended MTN for investing in grassroots sports and said the initiative would motivate young athletes to improve their performance. He also called on secondary schools in Ogun State to allow students to train after school hours, noting that regular practice would help them prepare for future competitions and develop their athletic potential.
The Vice Principal of Ogbogbo Baptist Grammar School, Bolanle Shebi-Omo, also thanked MTN for the support and urged the company to sustain its contributions to youth development. She said the sponsorship would encourage students to recognise opportunities for achievement beyond academics.
The fourth season of the MTN Champs competition involved four secondary schools across South-West Nigeria, giving students an opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities and compete for recognition.
