Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10 kilometer marathon to hold September 9

Ifeanyi Eduzor

Nilayo Sports Management Limited,
organisers of the annual Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10 kilometer marathon has announced that the third edition of the half marathon will take place on September 9 this year.
Disclosing this to the media during a world press conference held at Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta, MD/ CEO of Nilayo Sports, Bukola Olopade said they moved this year’s event forward from the usual month of November when the two previous editions were held to September so that it will coincide with the 80th birthday celebration of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Dr. Adedotun Aremu Gbadejo.
According to him, this year’s edition will involve some foreign elite athletes in keeping with the plan of the title sponsors; Lotus Bank to make it an international event
“As you’re aware, the first and second editions were organised in November and it involved only Nigerian runners but this time around, Lotus Bank, our title sponsors insisted we invite some elite athletes to make it an international marathon and we’re also holding it in September to coincide with the birthday celebration of our revered Monarch, the Alake of Egbaland who will be joining the octogenarian club in September”,he explained.
Olopade promised that like the previous editions, the event will be an exciting one as fans will be treated to many side attractions including the best of Egba hospitality and cultural display even as he announced that some of the biggest Egba artists and comedians will also be on ground to add glamour to the race.
He was particularly full of praises to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun for creating enabling environment for the development of sports in the state, saying; that the Governor’s effort must be appreciated by all.
” I must use this opportunity to thank His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun for his untiring efforts in developing sports in the state. This was a man who immediately after the last Sports Festival in Delta State, hosted all the state’s athletes and rewarded them handsomely not minding whether they won medals or not. He also offered them employment which has not happened in any state of the country before and we will continue to support him in moving Ogun State sports to higher pedestal.
In his remarks, Lotus Bank Group Head, Marketing, South West, Ola Brodre- Mends said his organisation is happy partnering with Nilayo Sports to not only popularize long distance races in the state but to enable talented youths achieve their potentials in sports, promising that as part of the bank’s social responsibility function, they will continue to partner the organisers in moving the sports of marathon forward in the country.
” We at Lotus Bank are sports friendly and believe in using sports to impact positively on our youths and that’s why
we’re partnering with Nilayo Sports to enable talented youths achieve their potentials in sports and as a company that takes the issue of corporate responsibility serious, we will continue to sponsor the marathon because of it’s immense benefit”, he assured.
Winners of both the men and women categories in the elite run will get $5,000 while the first and second runners-up will receive $3,000 and $2, 000 respectively with the fourth and fifth positions getting $1,500 and $1,000.
Also the first Nigerian male and female athletes to get to the finish line will get N1million respectively while the first and second runners-up will go home with N500,000 just as the fourth and fifth positions will get N200,000 and N100,000 for their efforts.