Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu 


Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed that one of the reasons behind the huge push for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was to use it as a global platform to position The Lagos brand as an outstanding destination for all.

 

The governor said this during the closing ceremony of the 2022 event won by Ethiopia’s runner, Ulfata Deresa.

 

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.

 

“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.”

 

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

 

 Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, 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,The Governor and many other dignitaries also took part in the race in a symbolic flag-off of the Marathon.Governor, Sanwo-Olu 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,

 

Others dignitaries that took part in the symbolic race  included: 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.

 

At exactly 8:03am, Governor Sanwo-Olu, crossed the finish line of the Marathon, ceremonially becoming the first athlete to breast the final ribbon.

 

Ulfata Deresa, the official winner finished the 42-kilometre-long race 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.

 

Sanwo-Olu took off from the State House in Marina, jogging through highways to Eko Atlantic City, covering 8 kilometre distance in 40 minutes.

 

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

 

His words: “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.

 

“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.”

 

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.

 

He stressed that the initiative 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 when it has- attained the platinum level.

 

“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 sport 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 also received $30,000 cash prize.