Kunle Adelabu
Organisers of the annual Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi Independence Day Mini – Marathon have announced that the much – awaited sporting event will not hold this year due to the restriction on social gathering occasioned by the COVID – 19 pandemic.
Government recently lifted ban placed on non – contact sports while the restrictions on others are still in force.
The marathon race, which holds annually on October 1 to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day, also provides veritable opportunity for young talented athletes to compete and showcase their talents with the ultimate aim of being detected and nurtured.
This year’s edition is supposed to be the 6th edition of the annual sporting event that usually involves students from both public and private secondary schools in Ikorodu Division.
Speaking with the sponsor of the annual marathon race, who is also the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, he said that the event has been put off till next year due to the COVID – 19 pandemic that is still ravaging the global village.
The ranking lawmaker stated that the event has become part of the annual events in Ikorodu and also meant to help the youths in discovering themselves.
He stated further that:
“We cannot expose the same people that we are meant to provide a platform for to express and detect themselves to danger.
“Since government has not lifted ban on sports generally, we cannot go ahead to organize the annual marathon. The restriction is in the interest of the people and as a responsible organization, we must be seen to act responsibly”.
Agunbiade stressed that organisers of the tournament will continue to support the government in its fight to contain the spread of the virus by adhering strictly with laid down protocols.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the global order and sporting activities inclusive. We usually start preparations for the next edition immediately after every edition but for the 2020 edition, it will definitely not hold because of restrictions on some activities. We will continue to work with the relevant authorities in their fight to contain the spread of the virus”, he said.
The lawmaker also stated that all the pre- competition preparation and process like registration, screening, medical test, tour of the marathon route and unveiling among others cannot take place while schools were shut down
He encouraged young athletes to cultivate the habit of training individually while the restriction last so as to keep them in shape and safe.
Also, Mr Akeem Bello, who has been the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the marathon race since inception, speaking with THE IMPACT, also said that the sporting event which, according to him, has turned to discovery ground for young athletes will not hold this year.
He stated that the race will be back in a bigger and better form in 2021.
“We cannot do anything against the government’s directives and more importantly, we have to protect the interest of the same young people that we are safeguarding.
“We are going to be back in a bigger and better form next year. That I can assure everyone”, he said.
Mr Bello emphasized that candidates for the competition are usually registered by schools but this has been prevented due to closure of educational institutional institutions in the state.
“It will also defeat the purpose of the exercise if we had gone to organize the event because schools are yet to fully resume session due to the COVID – 19 lockdown. As you are aware, registration of students’ participants is usually done by the school. This is also another reason” Planning Committee Chairman added.
Students from Ikorodu Constituency II in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, dominated the competition last year, winning both the male and female categories of the 5th edition of the mini-marathon.
Alloy Ifeanyi John (147), a JSS3 student of Imota Community Junior School, Imota, returned 44 minutes and 29 seconds to emerge the overall best athlete in the 10 kilometres race while Akanbi Muslim (393), a SSS 1 student of Luwasa Senior High School, Ijede, returned 51 minutes 34 seconds to win the female category.
Bashiru Awal Rebecca (893) from United Junior High School, Ikorodu, and Wahab Zainab Idowu (125) from Kingsfield College, Ikorodu, returned 51minutes 40seconds and 52mnutes 03 seconds to emerge second and third best respectively in the female category.
Oluwatuyi Michael of Yewa Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu, and Sekoni Olawale from Goodness & Mercy College, Ikorodu, emerged second and third best in the male category as they returned 45minutes 53seconds and 45minutes 41seconds respectively.
Each of the winners in both male and female categories of the race went home with N50, 000 prize money, while the two first runners-up received N30, 000 each and second runners-up received N20, 000 each.
Also, athletes in the 4th to 10th positions in both categories received N10, 000, while those in the 11th to 20th positions were given branded school bags.
A total of 667 students participated in last year’s edition of the annual race with Apejola Oyelarin, a 10-year-old girl and Musa Ifeoluwa, a 10-year-old boy, participated as the youngest athletes.
