Innovations and plans for the 2020 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have been unveiled by the organisers and sponsors.

At a media parley held at the Press Center of the Lagos State secretariat, Alausa, Bukola Oloapade, the consultant for the marathon, confirmed the new status of the Lagos race which has now been accorded a Silver Label.

The Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Ltd also thanked everyone that has contributed to the huge success.

“I am very glad about the success we have recorded as far as the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is concerned, I remember when we wanted to start this journey four-five years ago, not many gave us a chance to succeed but under five years we have become the first marathon that has been given a Silver Label” Olopade noted.

“We are very grateful to the Lagos State Government for their unflinching support, our headline sponsor Access Bank as well as the other sponsors who have all been unrelenting, I can assure you that we would not be reduced on the standards we have already set but instead, expect an even better race in 2020,” the former Ogun State sports commissioner assured.

Olopade also announced that the sponsors have already purchased over 50,000 forms for runners while a good number have independently paid to be part of the fifth edition of the Lagos marathon.

On his part, Ameachi Okobi, Head, Communications & External Affairs at Access Bank Plc, said the bank is very happy to be part of the success story that the Lagos Marathon has become.

He said: “We have found this platform incredible not just in terms of return on investment but we are helping to change the narrative of Nigeria and even Africa that something good and worthwhile can indeed come from this part of the world.

“When you think about a marathon, so many things come to mind, the road, security, the runners and other things but since edition one till four, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has not recorded any major incident and that is not a mean feat.

“I can boldly say this marathon is now a major fixture in every serious runner’s calendar so it means we are doing a lot of things right and we can only get better.”

Sola Aiyepekeu, the Lagos State Sports Commission Chairman, reiterated that support of the state government Access Bank Lagos City Marathon as he noted that the event has manifold positive effects and benefits.

L-R: Ameachi Okobi, Head, Communications & External Affairs at Access Bank Plc, Sola Aiyepeku Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Bolowotan D.G Lagos State Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Ltd

He said: “I am proud to be part of the first Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, I must say I am even happier that it has grown bigger than we ever imagined in less than five years.

“Lagos State will always support events like this, apart from helping improving tourism, the youth in the state now look forward to this annually.

“I must commend Nilayo Limited because they have helped revive the culture of marathon and it is now spreading across Nigeria.”

Yusuf Alli, the General Manager for the Marathon, confirmed that a good number of Gold and Silver Label runners have been confirmed for the 2020 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon billed for February 8.