Telecommunications company MTN Nigeria has donated sports equipment to two secondary schools in Cross River State to promote grassroots sports development and nurture young talents.

The donation was made to Government Secondary School, Henshaw Town, and Government Technical College, Calabar, under the grant implementation of the fourth season of the MTN Champs competition.

Speaking during the handover on Tuesday, MTN’s Senior Manager, Network Operations for the South-East and South-South, Dr Theophilus Nnabugwu, said the intervention was a reward for the schools’ outstanding performances in the competition, which featured several schools.

Nnabugwu said the company was committed to identifying and developing sporting talents from an early age, expressing confidence that the beneficiaries could produce world-class athletes in the future.

“At MTN, we believe in giving back to society. We want these kids to excel, especially in sports. We believe in supporting the youth that will take over sports tomorrow. We groom them right from school age to become world champions.”

Nnabugwu said the company was investing in the lives of young people to encourage them to take sports seriously and make proper use of the equipment provided.

He noted that MTN Champs was an annual programme, adding that the company would continue to offer guidance and support to participating schools.

Items donated included table tennis boards and bats, footballs, Scrabble sets, chess boards and other sporting kits.

Reacting to the donation, the Games Master and Vice Principal in charge of Sports at Government Secondary School, Henshaw Town, Edem Bassey, said the equipment would improve sporting activities in the school.

“These items will be judiciously used for the purpose for which they are meant,” he added.

Also speaking, a teacher at Government Technical College, Calabar, who pleaded not to be named, noted that the sports equipment would support sporting activities and help students develop their talents.