The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has described the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon as a prime example of a thriving sports economy, highlighting its significant impact on commerce, tourism, and job creation.
The 10th edition of the marathon, organized by Nilayo Sports Management Company Limited, was successfully staged last Saturday, marking another milestone in its history. The event, which has grown into a world-class sports carnival, attracted over 25,000 runners, including 400 international athletes and 100 elite runners.
Hon. Olopade said that the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has evolved beyond just another race, to become a full-fledged ecosystem of sports commerce, benefiting multiple sectors and thousands of people.
Hon. Olopade, a two-time Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State stated that for the past 10 years, the marathon has succeeded in providing a source of livelihood for thousands of individuals in different sectors.
“This is exactly what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, envisioned when he re-established the National Sports Commission and appointed myself and Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko to create an environment where sports is not just entertainment but a business,” he said.
“We can all see that the organizers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have successfully created a platform for wealth and job creation over the past ten years through this race.”
“People travel from all over the world and from different states in Nigeria to participate, boosting the tourism and hospitality sectors of Lagos and the country at large. Additionally, the event stimulates various levels of commerce and business annually,” Olopade added.
The NSC DG further praised the organizers for positioning Nigeria on the global sporting map and expressed optimism that the marathon would soon achieve platinum status, upgrading from its current Gold Label classification.
“Our country has the potential to host more international sporting events like this. At the Sports Commission, we are committed to driving infrastructural development through the Renewed Hope Initiatives for Nigeria Sports Economy (RHINSE) campaign,” he concluded.
In the elite race, Kenya’s Edwin Kibet clinched victory in the men’s category, completing the 42km course in 2:14:19, while Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret won the women’s race in 2:37:04.
Meanwhile, Nyango Boyi emerged as the first Nigerian man to cross the line, while Blessing Shambor Solomon claimed victory as first Nigerian woman to finish.
