No fewer than 3,100 marathoners have registered to participate in the 11th edition of the 42-kilometre Power Oil/Splash FM Ibadan City Marathon Race scheduled to hold on Sunday, April 14, 2019 in the capital city of Oyo State.
Member of the Organizing Committee and News Editor, Splash FM, Tunde Olawuwo, disclosed this in Ibadan on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at a press conference to unveil the activities related to the annual marathon race held at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke-Ado.
Ibadan City Marathon Race is an initiative of an Ibadan-based radio station, Splash FM, owned by West Midland Communications under the Chairmanship of Chief Adebayo Akande in collaboration with Power Oil and other partners including Kayrom Lee Limited and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports as technical partners.
Tunde Olawuwo expressed that this year’s edition of the marathon race witnessed no fewer than 3,100 registered marathoners, including the high profile marathoners in the country, Iliya and Deborah Pam who are past winners of the race.
He stated that this year’s marathon race will witness the third edition of Run for a Course Race and second edition of Artisan’s Race. Olawuwo highlighted that the Run for a Course Race will include a Run for the Blind, Run for the Children with Disabilities, Home for the Vulnerable and Run for the Mentally Challenged People.
While commending the people of Oyo State for their support and cooperation since inception of the marathon race in 2008, he maintained that the organizers of the race have never recorded major casualty over the years.
Olawuwo disclosed that a sum of over N3 million has been set aside for the first five marathoners in both categories, while first male and female runners in the main race would go home with the prize money of N1 million and N800, 000 respectively with certificate of participation to be presented to all the participants.
In his address, the South West Zonal Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Femi Ajao, stated that adequate provision of security and medical services will continue to be the hallmark of the event.
He applauded Splash FM and other partners and sponsors who have been helping in the sustainability of the race.
The Managing Director, Kayrom Lee Limited, Ambassador Romoke Ayinde, who is also one of the partners of the Marathon event called on well meaning Nigerians to join hands with Splash FM to encourage sports in the country.
The Oyo State Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Niyi Alebiosu urged journalists in attendance to ensure excellent coverage as they have been doing since inception.
In attendance were CEO/MD, West Midland Communications, Atinuke Adetunji, GM Admin, Splash FM, Adeshina Alawode, representatives of Ello Water and Womai City, Benjamin Shogbola and Akeem Adeleye respectively.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi and Kunle Gazali
