Kunle ADELABU
-450 students screened so far
Alhaji Hakeem Olukunga, Member representing Ikorodu division on the Governing Board of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), has commended the ongoing screening of athletes that will be participating in the 2019 Oba Shotobi Independence Day Mini-Marathon coming up on October 1.
About 500 students from over 50 schools across Ikorodu division have so far being medically screened for the annual marathon race.
The 10km marathon, which is themed, ‘Marathon of Grace’ , is expected to kickoff at the Ayangbure palace in Ikorodu and terminate at the Police Barracks Playing Ground in Ikorodu.
Alhaji Olukunga, who paid an unscheduled visit to the Hon. Sanai Agunbiade’s Constituency Office in Ikorodu, where the screening of the athletes is being conducted, on Thursday (yesterday), commended the process which he described as very professional.
He told our reporter that the commission is not only involved in the screening but also supporting the annual sporting event.
Mr Olukunga also commended the initiator and sponsor of the marathon for his foresight which he said will go a long way in helping to revive the dying sporting event and also assist the State in detecting young and promising athletes.
“This is really a commendable initiative by our Majority Leader, Hon. SOB Agunbiade. It tallies with the policy of the state government in developing sports and ensure that age-group competitions are encouraged to detect young athletes for the division and the state at large.
“The sports commission is partnering with the organizers so that the annual event can be sustained “.
Mrs Abike Allison, the Secretary of Hon. SOB Agunbiade Constituency Office and one of the supervisors of the screening , told our reporter that the screening was going on fine.
She stated that the screening personnel were thorough in order to ensure that only eligible and fit athletes are certified to participate in the race. .
Mrs Allison disclosed that about five students were caught impersonating and were sent away.
Young athletes from both public and private secondary schools across the six Local government and Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, are expected to cover 10km in this year’s edition of the mini-marathon.
