By Kamsi Anayo
Not fewer than 2000 athletes including1000 foreigners are set to participate in the 2nd Onitsha City Marathon scheduled to hold on Sept. 30.
The Project Manager of the competition, Dr Osondu Umeobi, disclosed this during a press conference in Onitsha on Wednesday.
Umeobi said that the participants would be vying for honour in 21km road race in Onitsha metropolis with the slogan “Dare Your Limit”.
He said that about 400,000 USD would be spent as prize money for both males and females categories on 200,000 dollars each for the 1 to 10 best winners of the race on international level.
He added that ₦10,000,000 (N5million each for males and females categories) under the Nigeria categories, all valued at about ₦330,000,000.
Umeobi noted that top ten participants of Anambra state origin and members of the Sports Writers Association who would be kitted free with branded t-shirts would also receive reasonable prizes.
He explained that the marathon race would also serve as part of programmes for celebration of the 2023 Ofala festival of Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.
In a message, the organisers and founder, Onitsha Business School (OBS), Prof. Segun Sogbasan, affirmed that many innovations had been added to the second edition, including introduction of 50 viewing centres across Anambra and Delta states for more viewership of the programme.
Sogbasan further said that “Onitsha City Marathon is an Initiative of the Onitsha Business School (OBS). It is a product of Doctoral and Masters Degree students simulation class aimed at providing a solution to an observed environmental challenge in an otherwise energetic community of vibrant youth populace idling away.
“OBS, the promoters of this project intent to create three world class sporting facilities across Onitsha City to help promote, propagate and harness the idle sports talents in the city of Onitsha and beyond.
“Our mission is to be a platform for discovering, developing the avalanche of sporting energies within the host environment and Africa at large, adopting effective coordinating methodology and contemporary technology.”
He said that the organisers would work with interested corporate bodies and individuals who are ready to partner with them with adequate funding to drive the event to a concluding success.
“If each person in Anambra can donate N500 each, the event will actualise the objective. We are ready and preparing to achieve this noble goal for Anambra, Nigeria, Africa and world,” Sogbasan said.
He recalled that the first edition held in 2019 was participated by athletes from United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Kenya, Togo , China, Cameroon, to name a few, and implored for sponsorship from individuals and private institutions so as to make it a memorable event.
On his part, the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Commission, Mr Patrick-Estate Onyedum, represented by Ms Faith Okwonna, assured of the state government support to the programme, as it would not only benefit the masses health wise but also boost the state economy, businesses and the environment at large.
Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Achebe, who was represented by Sir Chike Ekweogwu, President-General of Onitsha Improvement Union thanked OBS for the initiative.
He assured that he would participate in the race as well as ensured that the event record success as planned.
