Take a fresh look at your lifestyle.

Ethiopian nationals win $60,000 First Prize in Lagos City Marathon, as Sanwo-Olu races with athletes

…‘Getting Contest From Elite To Platinum Level By 2024 Our Top Priority’ - Governor

…Dr. Hamzat, Sports Minister, Edo Deputy Governor Take Part In Marathon

At exactly 8:03a.m, on Saturday, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu crossed the finish line of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, ceremonially becoming the first athlete to breast the final ribbon.

Ethiopia’s runner, Ulfata Deresa, finished the 42-kilometre-long race 11 minutes after the Governor’s arrival and became the winner of the marathon’s 7th edition in the male category. He set a new finish time record of 2:11:58 and clinched $30,000 cash prize.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle); Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu (right) and others during the 7th Lagos City Marathon held at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, on Saturday

Governor Sanwo-Olu took off from the State House in Marina, jogging through highways to Eko Atlantic City; he covered 8km distance in 40 minutes.

READ ALSO: http://Ekiti guber: Gov. Fayemi’s achievements of insecurity, workers sack, others’ll send APC out of power – PDP

The governor teamed up with his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Minister for Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, Lagos Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Shola Aiyepeku, and LSSC Director-General, Gafaar Bolowotan, among other top functionaries, to participate in the symbolic flag-off.

The marathon is an elite-labeled athletic fiesta held in second weekend in February of every year in Lagos and draws participation from local and international teams in the athletic ecosystem. It kicked off at 6am.

L-R: Lagos Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, during the 7th Lagos City Marathon on Saturday

Sanwo-Olu said the event had consistently placed Lagos on the global radar, noting that the sporting fiesta had become a yearly ritual for athletes.

The Governor said the marathon embodied the spirit of Lagos, which teaches endurance, perseverance and resilience while toiling through physical strength.

He said: “One of the objectives of this event is to put Lagos on a global platform in the area of sport. Every year, new records are broken and the marathon gets bigger and better. As a Government, we are fully committed to sustaining this noble initiative and leading from the front to ensure that all participants, especially, our youths, get the best from this event.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ethiopian marathoner & Winner of the male category, Ulfata Deresa and Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, during a presentation to the winner of the male category at the 7th Lagos City Marathon held at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, on Saturday

“I acknowledge the great work which Access Bank and all other sponsors have put in to make this edition a success. The goal of the marathon is to use sport as a tool to promote physical fitness, togetherness, resilience and every virtue that can make human beings progress and live fulfilling life. This is the strongest rallying point for our youths and next edition would be better than what we have had this year.”

READ ALSO: http://ICPC chair warns against sub-standard work as FRCN launches Cooperative Housing Estate

Sanwo-Olu pledged his Government would be relentless in raising the status of the marathon to a platinum-labeled event to attract more participants beyond Africa.

This, the Governor said, would open up the State’s economy for more foreign investment and boost tourism revenue for operators in the sector.

Sanwo-Olu said the decision of Kenyan Airways, a global aviation brand, to be part of the sponsors of the event this year indicated that the marathon would bring more tourism opportunities for Lagos if attained platinum level.

L-R: Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu; Kenyan marathoner & 2nd prize winner of the male category, David Barmasai; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ethiopian marathoner & Winner of the male category, Ulfata Deresa; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare; Kenyan marathoner & 3rd prize winner of the male category, Naibe Emmanuel and Chairman/Non-Executive Director, Access Bank, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika, Dr. (Mrs) Ajoritsedere Awosika, during a presentation to the prize winners of the male category at the 7th Lagos City Marathon held at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, on Saturday

“We target the next two years to get this marathon to the platinum level, which means the event would be fully globalised. When this is achieved, every second weekend in February becomes calendarised for this marathon and Lagos would become a place to be and a destination for all sports enthusiasts,” the Governor said.

Presenting the prizes to the winners, Sanwo-Olu encouraged participants from Nigeria to brace themselves for first prizes in the next year’s edition.

Two Kenyans, David Barmasai and Naibe Emmanuel, finished as first and second runners-up in the male category, at 2:13:27 and 2:14:42 respectively. They got a cash prize of $20,000 and $15,000.

In the female category, Ethiopian marathoner, Dagne Siranesh Yirga, won the race at 2:33:50. She received $30,000 cash prize.

Alemenesh Herehaguta and Naomi Maiyo, both Kenyans, won $20,000 and $15,000 as first and second runners-up in the female category.

 

 

 

 

Comments
Loading...