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Tag: Lagos Marathon

  • Okpekpe race organisers commends Lagos Marathon

    Okpekpe race organisers commends Lagos Marathon

    Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the historic Okpekpe international 10km road race, has congratulated Nilayo Sports Management,  Access Bank, and Lagos State Government on the successful organisation of the 10th  edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.                                 

    Zack Amodu, the Okpekpe international 10km road race director, is thrilled organisers of the Lagos Marathon have been steadfast and focused on delivering an event that grew from bronze to a gold label race.                                   ‘

    ‘We at Okpekpe international 10km race can only be happy that organisers of Lagos Marathon have been able to successfully navigate the path we cleared as the first road running event in West Africa to have its race course measured by a World Athletics certified course measurer.      

    “We are also the first to be officially recognised as a World class event by World Athletics with the granting of a bronze label status in 2015, eight years after the world governing body started classifying road races,” said Amodu.         

      Okpekpe race organiser celebrated 10 years of organising the label race in 2024, and Amodu said he understood  how organisers of the event in Lagos must be feeling after delivering another successful race on Saturday.                                   

    Read Also: Okpekpe race organizer certifies Dikko fit for NSC role

      Amodu believes organizers of road races in Nigeria have helped in laying a solid foundation in Nigeria and want the appropriate authorities to take it a step further.                                          “Distance running in Nigeria is the most lucrative among the athletics disciplines, and the earlier government makes a deliberate attempt at growing it, the better for the country. If our athletes are trained and encouraged to achieve times that will qualify them to run across the globe like the east Africans are doing now, the impact it will have on alleviating poverty, provide employment and contribute positively to our GDP will be massive.                                   

    “It will also arrest the negative tendencies of our youths who are being used by the devil to perpetuate criminality,’ added Amodu who is thrilled as many as 20 road races courses have measured and certified by World Athletics certified course measurers.”

  • Lagos marathon: Bouncers maltreat journalists

    Lagos marathon: Bouncers maltreat journalists

    The journalists accredited to cover the second Access Bank Lagos City were yesterday maltreated by the bouncers engaged by the race organisers, preventing them from carrying out their duties.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the journalists were poorly treated by the bouncers at the VIP arena.

    The journalists were accredited to have access to the VIP area, Work Station, Mixed Zone and Press Conference Rooms but the macho men prevented them from accessing the VIP.

    In terms of disseminating information to the media, it was poorly handled by the organisers who did not provide a mixed zone.

    A Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) journalist had his camera smashed by the macho men and a reporter from the Punch Newspaper was also manhandled.

    The journalists also complained about the accreditation tag which did not have a lot of areas filled in their accreditation forms.

    The 42km race started at the National Stadium and ended at the Eko Atlantic City.

    Thousands of empty pet bottles and other waste generated by participants at the starting point of the Marathon have been cleared by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

    A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that no sooner than the race began at the National Stadium, Surulere, the LAWMA workers immediately started cleaning the waste generated by the participants.

    The waste generated includes biscuit and other foods wrappers deposited at the race’s starting point at the National Stadium.

    One of the LAWMA workers, who spoke to NAN, said that they had to clean the area on time to move on to other places on the route used for race.

    One of them, who identified herself as Bilikisu, told NAN that they were directed to clear the route in order to keep the city clean.

    “Imagine if we are not here to work, what will the whole place look like?

    “Some of our colleagues are also stationed in other parts to do the same thing,’’ she said.

    Meanwhile, Kelechi Obi, a spectator, praised LAWMA for swiftly cleaning up the stadium and the route.

    He said the whole place would have been in mess if not for the speed with which the workers attended to the waste.

    “Kudos to LAWMA, they we’re able to clear all the refuse within a short period, kudos to them,’’ he said.

    NAN also reports that no fewer than 64 foreign and 102 local elite athletes participated in the race that registered 55,000 runners from 27 countries.

  • I will love to marry Nigerian – Kenyan marathoner

    The first female elite athlete to cross the finish line in Saturday’s 2nd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Rhoda Jepkhorir of Kenya, said she would not hesitate to marry a Nigerian if approached.

    Jepkhorir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the finish point that she would not hesitate to marry somebody from the country due to the kind nature of Nigerians.

    “If a Nigerian man should ask for my hand in marriage, I will marry him because Nigerians are nice people.

    “Nationality is no barrier, so far he is committed and caring, I will have no option,’’ she said.

    The athlete also said she loved watching the duo of Nigerian actors, Aki and Pawpaw, adding that she was so attached to Nigeria.

    “Aki and Pawpaw are my best actors in Nigeria. I have so much love for the Nigerian movie industry,’’ she said.

    The athlete, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, said that winning the race was a dream comes through for her.

    “The race has given me the opportunity to come to my dream country. I will come over and over again,’’ Jepkhorir added.

     

     

  • Marathon: Hoodlums attack 7UP officials, volunteers, steal refreshments

    Hoodlums on Saturday attacked officials of 7UP Bottling Company, the official provider of refreshments for the 2nd Access Bank Lagos Marathon and some volunteers, carting away table water packs and refreshments for the athletes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officials were defenceless at the Palm Groove end of Ikorodu Road, where they were stationed to hand over drinks to the athletes.

    The hoodlums overpowered the officials on duty and forced them to part with all the drinks at a point close to the Palm Groove Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) station.

    The Head of the 7UP Bottling Company Team, who identified herself as Kike, said the hoodlums carted away about 500 cartons of drinks meant for the marathoners, while the police refused to help them.

    “The hoodlums took all our products packs, about 500, meant for the marathoners,” the 7UP team leader told NAN.

    “I asked for help from the policemen around when the hoodlums were approaching but they said we should share the products.

    “So, when I could not succeed in persuading them, we stepped back.

    “The hoodlums were coming to carry the products in packs, so I said that we should be giving them only one since the policemen said they won’t be able to chase anybody away.

    “Before I knew it, my colleague stationed at the Teslim Balogun Stadium came with the same report that the hoodlums had attacked them.”

    “We don’t have an idea that the police won’t protect us. They just told us that they are not here for 7UP.

    “So, instead of allowing the hoodlums to steal our tents and destroy everything, we allowed them to go away with the products while we secure our assets.’’

     

  • 100, 000 athletes from 27 countries to participate in Lagos marathon

    100, 000 athletes from 27 countries to participate in Lagos marathon

    No fewer than 100, 000 athletes from 27 countries including Nigeria will be participating in the second edition of Access Bank sponsored ssLagos Marathon billed to hold from 7am to 2pm on February 11, 2017.

    Also, 64 elite athletes from 26 countries and 102 from Nigeria, as well as 30 special athletes will also be participating in the marathon scheduled to start from National Stadium in Surulere and terminate at Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island.

    Addressing a world press conference on Friday at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said adequate preparations have been put in place to ensure a successful event, assuring that the marathon had been designed to be bigger and better than the previous edition.

    Governor Ambode, who addressed the briefing alongside President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr Solomon Ogba; Acting President of International Association of Ultra runners, Mr Nadeem Khan; representatives of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and representatives of the sponsors of the event, said all the agencies of government participating in the event have been adequately mobilized, saying that Lagosians should expect the best.

     Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Sports and Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Deji Tinubu, said the event was meant to showcase the excellence of Lagos to the world as well as encourage sporting activities among the people.

    He said: “We want to show the world that Lagos can be and Lagos can do what it is expected of it as a mega city; we want to show to the world the tourism potentials of Lagos; we want to show to the world that Lagos is safe; we want to show to the world that Lagos can be the choice destination for sports, tourism and entertainment and that is why we are doing this.”

    While appreciating all the sponsors that partnered with the State Government, Governor Ambode said it was gratifying to note that many of the participating athletes have picked up their running kits, while top notch security and logistics arrangement have been put in place.

    He also said that the Sole Administrators of the Local Government Areas of the routes of the marathon have also been adequately mobilized, while arrangement for entertainment and fun packs have also been perfected for those not participating in the marathon.

    In his remarks, AFN President, Ogba said as the biggest commercial city and very important city in Africa, the Lagos Marathon was designed to be among the top ten marathons in the world, saying that he was indeed happy with the commitment of the present administration in the State led by Governor Ambode towards the marathon.

    He said it was a common knowledge that over 10,000 people travel to Lagos per day with no intention of going back and with a lot of attendant pressure on public infrastructure, adding that it was good thing that the government considered the event.

    Also, Head of Organizing Committee of the Marathon and Executive Director of Access Bank, Mr. Victor Otoko recalled the success of the last year edition, saying that necessary preparation has been perfected to make this year’s edition hugely successful.

    He said provisions have been made for a total of 29 water stations along the marathon routes with adequate security to ensure that only the marathoners get access it, while all the special athletes participating in the marathon would be given appearance fees.

    Explaining how the Marathon came into being, Project Consultant, Mr Bukola Olopade said Governor Ambode deserved to be commended for his sportsmanship that made it easy for the maiden event to be possible having given approval after presentation on the event.

    “Let me specially thank Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for understanding the context of hosting the event just within two minutes of discussing why Lagos, considered to be the hub of business activities in Nigeria and 5th largest economy in Africa should host

  • Lagos marathon: Action Aid partners Access Bank to race against poverty

    Lagos marathon: Action Aid partners Access Bank to race against poverty

  • Marathon: LASG deploys 300 LASTMA personnel

    Marathon: LASG deploys 300 LASTMA personnel

    The Lagos State Government has deployed no fewer than 300 Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel to monitor traffic during the Lagos City Marathon scheduled for Feb. 11.

    The state Commissioner for Transport, Olanrewaju Elegushi, told newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos that the ministry was ready to ensure adherence to traffic regulation during the race.

    Elegushi said that the plan had been put in place to host a successful marathon.

    The commissioner said that the 42 kilometres race would kick off at 6:00 a.m. at the National Stadium, Surulere and terminate at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island Lagos by 2 p.m.

    According to him, motorists from Eko Bridge are expected to take Costain to Apapa Road, Ebute Metta, or Orile through Nigeria Breweries and Bode Thomas route.

    Elegushi said that there would not be a restriction of vehicular movement on Ikorodu Road on both directions between Anthony and Ojota axis.

    “No fewer than 300 LASTMA officials have been deployed to handle the marathon events scheduled for Saturday, February 11.

    “We want to engage the Lagos residents on the plan of the government to host the Lagos City Marathon.

    “We appeal to them to follow the diversion plans to allow free traffic during the event,’’ the commissioner said.

    He said that traffic would be restricted to inward journey movement along Fadeyi, Ojuelegba and Stadium.

    Elegushi said that motorists would not be allowed to make U-turn between Anthony through the interchange, and at Jibowu on Ikorodu road.

    He said that vehicular movement would also be diverted through Alexandra Road from Cable Bridge, while Bourdillion Road would be temporarily closed to traffic.

    • Ahletes at the 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
    • Ahletes at the 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    The commissioner said that the ministry had also provided adequate traffic officials to mount diversion signs.

    Meanwhile, Mr Olawale Musa, General Manager, LASTMA said that government was duty bound to provide adequate information on the alternative routes that motorists could take during the event.

    Musa assured Lagos residents that the agency was committed to ensuring the marathon was hitch-free.

    “We appeal to Lagos residents to support the event and follow the alternative routes to ease traffic,” he said. 

  • Photos from Lagos Marathon

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