All set for 2020 Lagos City Marathon

• ‘Why we are remembering Deji Tinubu’

The General Manager for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Yussuf Alli has said that some individuals and groups that contributed to the success of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in the last five years would be honoured today.

Alli confirmed honour would be bestowed on the deserving recipients at the Ayodeji Tinubu Merit Award, which will hold simultaneously today with the Media Seminar and World Press Conference all billed to take place at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere by 10.am.

The General Manager for the Lagos Marathon, which is now a Silver Label race, recounts that the Late Ayodeji Tinubu, as the first chairman that oversaw the maiden edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, laid the solid foundation of what has now become the biggest one-day event on the continent.

“It is another chance for us to remember Ayodeji Tinubu for all his good works and his invaluable contributions to this amazing project called the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon,” Alli stated.

Alli recalled that after the sad death of Mr Tinubu in 2018, an award was suggested by Olukayode Thomas, Head Communications and Media for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, to be hosted in Tinubu’s name for journalists since he was one of the finest in the profession until his death.

The idea was discussed with Bukola Olopade, CEO Nilayo Sports Management Limited and Consultant to the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon who promptly approved the idea and awards were given at the 2019 edition to the trio of Solomon Ajuziogu, Kayode Hammed and Taiwo Adelu who were winners in the TV, Radio and Print categories respectively.

However, in December 2019, Olopade set up a board of trustees that noted rightly that even though the Late Tinubu was a well-respected journalist, his influence and contributions transcend the media, hence the decision to have a Merit Award to honour everyone from all walks of life that have in one way or the other contributed to the success story of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

In this light, nine people have been carefully selected and would be honoured today.Apart from this, a comprehensive review of the activities of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in the last five years will be done to see how it has contributed immensely to tourism and all-round development.The elite athletes invited from across the world will be at today’s event.