Access Bank Lagos City Marathon holds Saturday as organisers target platinum label
Organisers of the annual Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has expressed optimism that their target of achieving platinum label is realizable considering the acceptability of the race and efforts it has put in place to make it one of the best marathon races not only in Africa but globally.
Disclosing this during a world press conference to herald the 10th edition of the 42km race slated for Saturday February, 15, 2025, Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited Mrs. Yetunde Olopade said that their vision is to make Lagos a global marathon destination.
” We at Nilayo Sports are happy that we’re achieving our mission of making Lagos a global marathon destination as well as make the race a sports festival that will put Africa in the spotlight of the world.
“It’s a thing of joy that the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is now one of the best marathons in the world and having achieved gold label under four years, we believe that getting a platinum label won’t be a problem because we’ve met almost all the criteria.
Mrs. Olopade used the occasion to commend the title sponsor of the marathon, Access Bank PLC and other numerous sponsors for believing in Nilayo Sports.
In his remarks, Amaechi Okobi Chief Communications Officer of Access Holdings PLC expressed happiness that the marathon has projected Nigeria positively to the outside world; saying that the bank will continue to support the marathon.
Okobi, reminding people that the race is not all about winning because many runners participate in it to keep fit, burn out calories and check obesity. He however appealed to other corporate organisations to identify with the marathon inorder to make it bigger.
“We at Access Bank are happy that the marathon has been used to project Nigeria positively to the outside world and after ten years, there is need to make it bigger by achieving the platinum label.
“It’s equally important I appeal to other corporate organisations to identify with the marathon to make it bigger and probably be comparable to London, New York City, Boston, Berlin and Tokyo marathons
On his part, Chairman, Lagos Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the state government would always support the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon because it has become one of the most prestigious races across the globe. “It has provided the platform for our people to share ideal with foreigners from different parts of the globe,” he said.
Speaking at the world press conference , General Manager of the race, Yusuf Ali explained that the major target on Saturday is for any of the elite athlete to finish the race at 2hrs: 10minutes, which is one of the major criteria to get the Platinum Label.
Ali said all that is required for the 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 labels for females and one in Platinum. Right now, the World Athletics has changed the ranking modalities and the runners must be among the top 300.
He also disclosed that the prize money for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon would change if it gets the Platinum Label.
“When we got the Silver Label, the prize money was $30,000. It changed to $50,000 when we got the Gold Label. It will automatically change by the time we get the Platinum Label,” Ali said.
