Kunle ADELABU
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Organizers of the annual Oba Kabiru Shotobi Independence Mini-Marathon, initiated and sponsored by the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has stated that 270 students across the Constituency I and II in Ikorodu Division would be participating in the 3rd edition of the race.
The athletes would be embarking on a 7.3km race from the Ayangbure palace in Ikorodu and through designated routes before terminating at the Police Barracks Playing Ground along Igbogbo road,Ikorodu.
The much anticipated race would hold in the early hours of Monday, October 1, 2018, in commemoration of the national Independence Day.
Mr Akeem Bello, the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the race, revealed at a press conference held at the Hon. SOB Agunbiade Constituency Office in Ikorodu on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
According to the Chairman, the route for this year’s race would be, From Ayangburen palace >LivingStone College > Etunrenren street >. Late Ayangburen Residence > Water Works Station > Lagos Road > Round About > Sabo Market > Kokoro Abu Street > Ikorodu Grammar School along Awolowo Road > Ota Ona > Oriwu Road > Ita Elewa > Ireshe Road >. Sheriff Junction > Finish point at Police Barracks Ikorodu.
The race would be flagged off by 7:00am.
The race, which started in 2015 as Hon. Agunbiade Independence Day Marathon, was renamed in 2016 as Oba Shotobi Independence Mini-Marathon to honour the reigning traditional ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom for his support and developmental activities in Ikorodu.
Winners, second and third runner-ups in both male and female categories would win trophies for their schools while medals and cash prizes of N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 respectively would be given to them.
According to the organizers, there would be consolatory prizes for atheletes in 7th to 20th positions in both categories.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr Bello stated:
“For this year’s race, Four Hundred and Twenty(420) students registered to participate in the race but after going through medical screening conducted by the officials from the Lagos State Sports Commission, only Two Hundred and Seventy (270) athletes were declared fit to take part in the competition.
He stated that the list of the qualified athletes would be posted on Wednesday (yesterday)at the Hon. Agunbiade’s Constituency Office and urged participating students to check their names.
“The list of qualified athletes will be published on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, at Honorable S. O. B. Agunbiade Constituency Office along Awolowo Way, Oke Ota Ona, Ikorodu.
He added that the entrants were screened on medical and age grounds.
While stating that 70 athletes qualified after screening and took part in the first edition of the race in 2015,Mr Bello said that the race has been enjoying improved participation every year.
“This is an indication that the competition is growing. I am happy to inform you that past Winners like Olayinka Boluwatife won Bronze in Ibile Games while three of the winners at the 2017 edition won medals in 10KM category in last year’s Access Lagos Marathon.
“Our great Nation Nigeria will be 58 years old on 1st of October 2018. For four years running, the independence day celebration is marked in Ikorodu with Oba Shotobi Independence Day Mini-Marathon to domicile the independence day celebration.
Also at the Press Conference,Mr Bello listed the objectives of the marathon which this year’s edition’s logo was unveiled by HRM Oba Kabiru Shotobi on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at his palace.
“ To create a healthy rivalry between private and public secondary schools in Ikorodu division of Lagos State; to contribute to the development of sports in Lagos State and Nigeria; to discover and develop future champions who will represent Lagos State and Nigeria in national and international long distance race competitions and to domicile the National day celebration in Ikorodu division”.
He also announced that the officials for this year’s race, who were drawn from the Body of Games Masters from Ikorodu and Lagos State Sports Commissions, shall be properly briefed and taken through the designated routes for the race on Friday (tomorrow).
“The officials drawn from Body of games masters of primary and secondary schools in the division and the State Sports Commission will be briefed on Friday, September 28, 2018, on routes and rules of the competition alongside with the athletes” .
Mr Bello also announced a new innovation to the race this year.
“On Sunday, September 30, 2018, Torch for this year’s competition will be ignited by 4pm by His Royal Majesty Oba Kabir Shotobi and hand over to the past winners of the past competition who in turn will take the touch round the routes to the finish point at the Police Barrack Playing Ground along Igbogbo road, Ikorodu..
“The competition, as usual, has the approval of Education District ll. Special thanks to Mr. Olusanya Ebenezer, Tutor- General/Permanent Secretary, Education District ll and the Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission for their understanding”.
While appreciating the traditional rulers and others for their supports since the inception of the race, Mr Bello also reiterated the determination to continue the race as well as enhancing the general development of Ikorodu division.
“The initiator and sponsor of the race, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade , the Majority Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly, is encouraged by the support given to the competition by all the Obas in Ikorodu Division and the good people of the division and he’s using this medium to restate his determination and commitment to continually do his best for Ikorodu and Lagos State in general.
Also, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, while stating that his club organized the first-ever marathon race in Ikorodu division in 1999, added that the race was re-initiated to encourage competitiveness among students and domicile the Independence Day Celebration in Ikorodu.
Also speaking at the press conference, Prince Akeem Gbolade Olukunga, a member of the Governing Board, Lagos State Sports Commission, assured that the top athletes at this year’s edition of the race would be duly recognized and invited to compete at the state level against other top athletes from other divisions of the state.
He also commended the organizers and assured them of the commission’s support.
