Former Nigerian sprint legend Mary Onyali has advised young athletes nationwide to strike a balance between sports and education, emphasizing that academic success is just as vital as athletic achievement for long-term growth.
She made this call during the ongoing MTN CHAMPS Season 4 Grand Finale held at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
According to Onyali, aspiring elite athletes must avoid neglecting their education while pursuing sports, stressing that both should develop simultaneously. She noted that many athletes who secured scholarships abroad succeeded not only because of their sporting talent but also due to meeting academic requirements, including minimum GPA standards set by international institutions.
“Sports and education must go hand in hand. It is not enough to focus on one at the expense of the other—true success requires excellence in both,” she said.
She also praised the MTN Champs initiative as a vital platform for discovering grassroots talent, highlighting its role in giving young athletes opportunities to compete at the national level. Onyali commended the organisers for creating a structured pathway that identifies, nurtures, and prepares talents for elite performance.
She explained that the competition’s zonal and national format has boosted participation, with athletes advancing through stages hosted in cities such as Calabar and Jos before reaching the grand finale.
“Young athletes must see this as a chance to prove themselves. Those identified will be nurtured, mentored, and prepared for global success,” she added.
Also speaking, Babatunde Koiki, Manager of PR, Communications and Partnerships at Making of Champions, described MTN Champs Season 4 as the result of a four-year collaboration focused on discovering and developing Nigeria’s next generation of elite athletes.
Koiki noted that the initiative continues to provide a platform for emerging talents, many of whom are now competing at national and international levels. He added that MoC supports selected athletes through scholarships, educational placements, and elite coaching at its academy in Lagos.
“Several athletes discovered through this programme are now competing in the NCAA system in the United States and representing Nigeria at major championships,” he said.
He further revealed that the long-term vision includes preparing athletes for the 2028 Summer Olympics, describing the initiative as invaluable in shaping the future of youth sports development in Nigeria.
