Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City marathon are targeting a faster time of 2 hours 10minutes finish in the 10th edition holding tomorrow..
General Manager of the Race, Olympian Yusuf Ali, said yesterday during a symposium for accredited journalists at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos that the Gold Label category race is closer to achieving its Platinum Label category after the 10th anniversary.
Ali said that the indices of achieving the much coveted Platinum Label had been fulfilled by the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, adding that it is working hard to be the first in Africa to achieve the Platinum.
“Right now, we have good numbers of elite runners participating this year. We have seven gold medal runners in male category, two in Platinum, five gold label for female and one in Platinum.
“Right now, the World Athletics (WA) have changed the ranking modalities and the runners must be among the top 300.
“We have ticked all the boxes needed for qualification for the Platinum label. We are changing the status quo this year. Achieving the Platinum label category will be the first of such in Africa among other countries staging marathons. For this 10th anniversary, we have the elite athletes that can give us the Platinum Medal and also have our cross record which is 2hours:10minutes.
“The timing by the athletes is right for us, which will put us in good standing for the Platinum label” Alli said.
Ali, a former Director General of Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), also disclosed that some issues that arose from the last marathon had been fully addressed to put the race on good standing.
“Last year, the issue of water came up which we have also addressed. The organisers have added other incentives to make the 10th anniversary more memorable which include the appointment of pacers.”
“In the area, we have a very big plan of having three pacers for the men category and one for the women category. The three pacer can also finish the race. “
“We will be having a meeting with the athletes to discuss the issues about the pacers that they can also finish. One pacer will drop at 30km, the second pacer at 35km and the last at 40km.
“If the pacers have the strength, they can also finish which also mean that a pacer can also win the race. For the elite, we have over 100 runners as of today. We have more runners in the 10km than in the 42km,” Ali added.
The first batch of International athletes expected to participate in the 10thAccess Bank Lagos City Marathon will arrive the country on February 13, organisers of the race announced yesterday.
About 4000 International athletes are expected to participate in this year’s edition, which marks a decade of the Lagos City Marathon.
The 10th edition, tagged Love in the Air, will hold on February 15th, which is within the Valentine Day celebration.
Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management, Mrs Yetunde Olopade, stated yesterday that this year’s event would celebrate a decade of excellence.
“We are expecting the first set of international athletes to arrive in Lagos on February 13,” she said. “We are looking forward to receive the athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Eritrea, France, Uganda, Italy and Ghana.
“ In all, we are expecting over 4,000 foreign runners and about 100 international elite athletes. Nilayo Sports Management and the Lagos Sports Commission is doing everything possible for everyone connected with the marathon to have a memorable event.
“The streets of Lagos will be alive with the spirit of competition and unity, on February 15th, one day after Valentine’s Day. We know that people in some parts of the world experience winter in this month of February, but Lagos usually bring the heat with its vibrant energy and world-class hospitality.
“Whether one is running, cheering, or soaking in the sporting and festive atmosphere, this 10th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will be an unforgettable experience,” she stated.
Mrs. Olopade also revealed yesterday that the first ceremony leading to the marathon race, an expo event, commenced at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Monday.
Recall that Kenyan runner, Bernard Sang, emerged winner of the 2024 Lagos City Marathon, after clocking a time of 02:16:49.
The 32-year-old outran 80 others in the 9th edition of the race to win the 42km marathon, clinching the $50,000 prize money.
The East Africans dominated the race as two other Kenyans, Simon Cheprot and Edwin Kiptoo, came second and third, with cash prizes of $40,000 and $30,000, respectively. The Kenyans won the marathon in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
Also, 25-year-old Ethiopian, Kebene Chala, crossed the finish line to emerge winner of the women’s category, while Shehu Muazu, the first Nigerian to cross the finish line, went home with N1 million cash prize.
From its inception a decade ago , the story of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been that of courage, resilience, and sheer grit.
Way back in February 2016, the management of Access Bank Plc in partnership with the Lagos State Government, hosted the inaugural edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Then, it was basically to encourage healthy lifestyle by encouraging people to engage in physical exercise.
Ten years down the line, Nigerians are reaping the full benefits of the Marathon, especially its contributions to the economic development of the host city, Lagos in particular and the nation in general.
In the same way, long distance runners from across the globe continue to smile going by the huge financial gains they make at every edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon since 2016.
The goal of the partnership from the outset was to provide strategic support to the country’s sports industry and promote a healthy and active lifestyle among citizens. The campaign activity was built around the theme: ‘Running from the Old to the New’.
The 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon had 50,000 registered participants, and was ranked 2nd best in Africa behind the Cape Town Marathon by the All-Athletics.com. It was also ranked 71 amongst over 1,000 international marathons across the globe.
One major achievement by the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was clinching the World Athletics Bronze Label on the heels of its second edition in 2017, becoming the third marathon in the world to accomplish such feat within that time.
The Marathon got awarded the Silver Label two years later, becoming the first ever marathon in the world to attain this after only four editions.
And in 2023, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon earned the World Athletics Gold Label ahead of that year’s edition of the Race, officially becoming the first full marathon in Africa to achieve this historic feat and the 25th in the world to be awarded the coveted status.
It is worthy to note that the World Athletics Gold Label is awarded to races that satisfy the international body’s requirements in terms of quality of organisation and management among other criteria.
With its new status come higher expectations for this 10th edition as both the organisers and sponsors of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, have promised come Saturday, 15th February, to deliver a race that rivalled previous editions in reach, impact and magnitude- proving that the Marathon is indeed worthy of its status and is well on its way to clinching the elite label.
Hopefully, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will aim at the Platinum Label, which is the highest rating any international marathon can attain.
Amongst its many achievements in the past, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon partnered with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide a platform for fundraising and awareness for refugees across Africa. Executed for the first time in 2023 edition, over 16 refugees from across Africa and Syria participated in the enthralling road race.
Access Bank PLC teamed up with ParallelPoint Consult to carry out a recyclable waste pickup initiative during one of its past editions, an effort which resulted in the collection of 10,000 tonnes of waste that were transformed into useful and socially beneficial products.
To reinforce its commitment to sustainability during the Race, Access Bank PLC collaborated with The Nigeria Business Coalition Against Aids (NiBUCAA) to launch a massive HIV/AIDS awareness initiative. This included informative sessions to educate people about HIV/AIDS, as well as the distribution of condoms and provision of HIV testing and counselling services to 5,486 participants. This partnership aimed to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and help prevent its spread.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, in particular, has empowered a number of people in the hospitality industry, including food and drink vendors, fashion designers, advertisers, communication agencies and experts, technical officers, and volunteers that were all engaged from the planning stage to the completion of the marathon. The entertainment industry is not left out.
In Nigeria, tourists especially love ‘African souvenirs’ many of which are made available along the routes of the marathon and off-site.
Within a short period, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon grew in strength. The 2018 edition hosted 35 gold label athletes, 12 silver and 13 bronze label athletes, including 120 international and 150 Nigerian elite athletes. These numbers do not take into account the tourists who were also present as observers and supporters of the racers.
In 2019, 120,000 people registered to run the 42km path from the National Stadium, Surulere to Eko Atlantic.
Beyond the fit and active lifestyle that running promotes, marathons have become sport tourism events. People now participate in marathons for other reasons which include; self-esteem booster, self-actualisation, self-therapy, and even socialisation.
Marathons are not only beneficial to the participants but also to the host cities. It is for this reason that more cities are launching races to promote tourism and boost their image.
Lagos, a cosmopolitan city, has been a destination point for many tourists across the globe. The route for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was excellently planned to show off some of the city’s finest landmarks, including Eko Atlantic which only grows in splendour as the construction of the megacity continues.
Taking into consideration the transportation, hotels, dining, social activities, post-run sightseeing, family and friends that are likely to accompany the runners, and the size of some marathons, it’s an easy guess that marathons cause a notable boost to the host city’s tourism industry.
By hosting a marathon widely watched across the continent and the world, Lagos has consistently informed investors, tourists, and foreign governments that the state is ready for business.
While recognising the effort and investment required in hosting such an event, it also further stimulates future tourist visits, not just during the event. For example, the inevitable economic benefit for many countries that have hosted the Olympic Games include the post-Olympic effect of an influx in international tourist arrivals.
Additionally, event publicity also increases interest and the demand for local products and services from vendors, fashion designers, advertisers, travel agencies and experts, even when consumers are yet to visit the area.
Different marathons attract runners who spend money on consumables and sports equipment. International participants also spend money on flights and accommodation, while local athletes (who make up to 90 per cent of the runners) also spend money on consumables and every other opportunity in order to fully experience the marathon.
Extending the impact of the Race beyond the participating athletes and sustainability-led projects, the Marathon has featured various converts for attendees who came out to be entertained. Nigeria’s Afro House queen, Niniola, as well as great entertainers like Zlatan and Shina Peters invented the Owambe party into the event with the entertainment segment, which reflected Access Bank’s penchant for excellence and outperforming expectations.
Indeed, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is putting Africa on the global map and has gained the attention of the global athletics community. This is evidenced by the august visit of Alessio Punzi, Head of Running and Mass Participation at World Athletics and Norie Williamson, Member of the World Athletics Technical Committee, to observe the race’s organisation and execution in Lagos.
Former Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, the late Herbert Wigwe, played a vital role in ensuring the Marathon become what it is today.
While speaking about the Marathon, Wigwe said: “As one of the leading banks in Nigeria and indeed Africa, it is imperative for us to support the economic and social development of the communities in which we operate. Hence, we have sponsored the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon since 2016 to make Lagos State more attractive to tourists and foreign investors alike.
“We have also used this platform as an avenue to create ratite for us to support the economic and social development of the communities in which we operate. Hence, we have sponsored the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon to create more jobs and opportunities to thousands in the state.”
Nilayo Sports Management has been the sole organizer of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon since its inception in 2016.
In 2024, former Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports, Chief Bukola Olopade, who is now the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), said that economic impact of the Marathon does not just end after the runners have crossed the finish line.
He said: “These people return to their home countries and share their experiences about Nigeria and particularly the city of Lagos. This is likely the most plausible explanation why the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has enjoyed exponential growth over the years. We in Nilayo Sports Management will continue to do our best to ensure this event continue to grow.”
With his appointment at the NSC, Olopade has since relinquished his position at Nilayo Sports Management. His wife, Mrs. Yetunde Olopade has since taken over the mantle of leadership and has promised to deliver the best ever event comes February 15- a day after Valentine’s Day.
In 2018, World athletics governing body (former IAAF), introduced the Platinum Label for the 2020 season. For the 2021 season, the Platinum Label was renamed Elite Platinum Label, the Gold Label was renamed Elite Label, and the Silver and Bronze Labels were merged into Label Races.
The Labels are assessed and awarded each year. Race organisers have to apply to the World Athletics for recognition, and show that their race can meet a number of criteria. The criteria vary for the different levels; Gold Labels have the strictest requirements, followed by Silver, then Bronze. All three categories require what the World Athletics describes as an international elite field, that requires at least five nations (four for Bronze) to be represented by runners with times faster than the World Athletics’ guidelines.
In line with this year’s theme, the organisers say they will continue to push the limit, aim for more and build towards achieving the exclusive Platinum Label status.
As the countdown to February 15th date for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon continues, top Nigerian sports dignitaries have signed up to participate in the event marking its 10th anniversary.
Preparations are in top gear, with elite runners from across the world and Lagos fun runners are looking forwarding to participating in the event.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has solidified its place as one of the most prestigious marathons in the world.
Among the Nigerian top dignitaries eager to be part of the 2025 edition, which promises to be a thrilling event like no other, include Sunday Dare, former Sports Minister and now Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to the President Bola Tinubu, National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, NSC Director General Bukola Olapade, former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and now FIFA executive committee member Amaju Pinnick.
Others are Nigeria Olympic Committee vice president, Solomon Ogba, Paralympic Committee of Nigeria president Sunday Odebode and Athletics Federation of Nigeria president Tonobok Okowa.
Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have promised to make the 10th anniversary as a celebration of athleticism, unity and global excellence when the event rolls off on February 15.
Over the years, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has carved an indelible mark in the world of road racing, growing in leaps and bounds. It has evolved into one of the fastest-growing road races globally, a testament to its stellar reputation and meticulous organisation.
Nilayo Sports Management, which is the force behind the event says the 10th edition will witness a more friendly and hospitable race that would be a reference point in road race events.
“As the world celebrates a decade of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, it is clear that this race is more than just a sporting event,” Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports management, Mrs Yetunde Olopade said yesterday.
“It is a movement that inspires health, fosters international camaraderie, and positions Lagos as a city to watch on the global athletics map,” Mrs Olopade stated.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon remains one of the biggest in prize money in the world. It has become a beacon of opportunity and competition, attracting elite runners and enthusiasts from across the globe.
Athletes from powerhouse countries in long-distance running like Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as participants from France and other nations, converge on Lagos to vie for glory on its vibrant streets.
According to Nilayo Sports, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, which started in 2016 will continue to inspire participation, foster unity, and promote Lagos as a global sporting hub.
Over 4,000 foreign runners and 100 elite athletes are expected to participate in this year’s edition.
Over 81 world class elite runners who are basically Gold Label athletes, have confirmed their participation in the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, which comes up on Saturday .
Amongst the 81 elite runners, are 29 gold label women runners, which according to the General Manager of the Lagos City Marathon, Yusuf Ali, has a very rich and world class running field with the potential of unearthing a new course record come February 10.
According to the CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the owners of the Lagos City Marathon, Chief Bukola Olopade, the United Nations has also confirmed the participation of 15 refugee runners among the expected rich field of contenders
Ali, former Africa’s Long Jump record holder for 27 years, noted that the confirmation of over 81 world class Gold Label runners, is positive thing especially as the organisers are preparing for the 10th edition of the race with the biggest prospect of uplifting the race from its Gold Label status to the Platinum Label.
“Our target is to ensure that our registered world class elite runners help propel the Lagos City Marathon to the Platinum Label. This is possible with the calibre of runners that will be on the field on February 10. If we can produce five elite runners crossing the finish line at 2 hours 8 minutes, we shall most definitely climb to the Platinum Label.
“With the presence of a former world record holder like Demis Kipmeto on 2 hours 02 minutes and 57 seconds, Kelkile Gezahegan (Ethiopia) on 2hours 05 minutes and 56 seconds, Kiptoo Edwin on 2hours 06 minutes and 52 seconds and female runners like Valary Jemeli (Kenya) on 2 hours 19minutes, there is a huge possibility that the status of the Lagos City Marathon will change at the end of this race on Saturday,” Alli noted.
He further disclosed that, the 9th Lagos City Marathon will be used to select qualifiers for the next edition of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024.
He stressed the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will be a great race by all standards, this year. He added that, air quality control will be checked by the World Athletics among other things done in top world class marathon races across the world.
Registration for the 2020 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon opened Monday, June 17, 2019, with intending participants paying a fee according to a statement signed by the organisation Director of Communications and Media Olukayode Thomas.
Upon the payment of the registration fee of N5, 000 for the 10km race and the full marathon, intending participants can register online atwww.lagoscitymarathon.com or collect registration forms at the Marathon Office, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos or any of the Access Bank branches nationwide.
Thomas said foreigners who intend to participate in the 2020 edition slated for February 8, 2020, will pay a registration fee of $US100 (One Hundred United States of America dollar only).
Thomas said the first four editions of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was free but a fee is being introduced from 2020 so as to comply with the IAAF requirement which stipulates that all top label races must charge a participation fee.
He said 10 per cent of the registration fee paid will be donated to five charity organisations selected by members of the public and other stakeholders.
“Payment of registration fee will enable us to raise the standard of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon to the standard of other world-class marathons like the New York Marathon, Dubai, London, Chicago, and others.
“It will also attract many tourists to Lagos, thus boosting the State’s economy; especially in the areas of hospitality, transport, sales of arts and crafts and the positive stories they leave with will attract genuine investors to Lagos State in future,” Said Thomas.
As Deborah Pam, a renowned distance runner gets set to tie nuptial knots, she says she would give other distance runners the chance to win in 2020.
Pam who placed sixth in the international category of the 2019 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that getting married does not mean she was retiring.
“I am not thinking of leaving marathon anytime soon but I am thinking of proceeding in life.
“I want to proceed by getting married soon and attending international competitions,” she said.
Pam said that if her colleagues did not meet up to standard and cope while she was away, she would come back to reclaim the title.
“I will give other athletes the chance to win when I get married, like the 2020 Lagos marathon, I will give them the chance to win.
“But, if they cannot meet up and cope, I will come back for it,” she said.
The athlete who is betrothed to Emmanuel Gyang, also a distance runner, said that she was grateful that her betrothed was also her coach.
“I am happy with my performance at the 2019 Lagos City marathon, I followed my coach’s procedure. He has been training me and encouraging me at the same time.
“I am truly grateful to have him as a coach and fiancé,” Pam said.
NAN reports that Pam was the first Nigerian female to cross the finish line at the 2019 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon with a time of 2:52:58 seconds. (NAN)
