The
culture of international marathons and road races revived by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in February 2016 is spreading like
wildfire.
The
latest cities to catch the bug courtesy Nilayo Sports Management are
Abuja and Abeokuta and both did with a record, they became the first
races in the history of Nigeria that their routes will be measured,
calibrated and certificates issued by IAAF and AIMS before the race.
Their
routes were measured and calibrated by world-renowned measurer Norrie
Williamson who measured the route of four Olympic Games and many of the
world best road races and marathons.
Bukola
Olopade the Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited
revealed that the Abuja City Marathon will hold October 13, 2019, and
Abeokuta City Marathon November 3, 2010.
Olopade
said Abuja the federal capital deserved a full marathon and he thanked
the president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Ibrahim Gusau for
giving Nilayo Sports the patent for Abuja City Marathon.
He also said Abeokuta the cradle of civilization in Nigeria has witnessed consistent progress since returned to civil rule.
“Segun
Osoba opened up the city and the state, Gbenga Daniels moved the city
and state from a civil service state to a corporate state while the
present government of Ibikunle Amosun has done well in the area of road
construction in Abeokuta metropolis, an Abeokuta City Marathon will open
the city and the state to the world especially it tourism potentials,
the socio-economic and health benefits of the marathon to the city and
the state cannot be quantifiable.”
Olopade
revealed Nilayo has already secured six sponsors for Abeokuta City
Marathon while a telecom giant and an automobile company have signed on
for Abuja City Marathon.
He
attributed the record-breaking feats of the two races, certification by
IAAF/AIMS before the race to Nilayo’s hardworking staff like Yussuf
Alli who he believes Nigeria own a debt for his immense contribution to
sports development.
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