By Okechukwu Okechukwu
Not fewer than 2000 athletes are set to participate in the 2023 Onitsha City Marathon holding at Onitsha, the commercial nerve of Anambra State.
The Marathon race which is second of it kind, is set to hold on September 30, 2023 with participants drawn from all parts of the world.
The Project Manager, Onitsha City Marathon, Dr Osondu Umeobi, disclosed this on Wednesday, during a press conference held at Onistha Business School, the promoter of the race.
He said that about 400,000 USD had been mapped out as prizes for both males and females categories of the race on international level and ₦10,000,000 for males and females categories under Nigeria session, all valued at about ₦330,000,000.
Umeobi, who explained that the event was slated to hold on September 30 as part of events featuring the 2023 Ofala festival of Onistha ancient kingdom, added that about 1000 international top athletes were expected to participate in the race.
He noted that top ten participants of Anambra State origin would receive reasonable prizes, while the 21km road race would equally feature 42 kilometers race as the highest, among other ultra events.
In a message, the founder, Onitsha Business School (OBS), Professor Segun Sogbason, explained that many innovations had been added into the second edition, including introduction of 50 viewing centres scattered across Anambra and Delta States for more viewership of the programme.
Sogbason further maintained that "Onitsha City Marathon is an Initiative of the Onitsha Business School (OBS). It is a product of Doctoral and Masters Degree students simulation class aimed at providing a solution to an observed environmental challenge in an otherwise energetic community of vibrant youth populace idling away.
"OBS, the promoters of this project intent to create three world class sporting facilities cut across Onitsha City to help promote, propagate and harness the idle sports talents in the city of Onitsha and beyond. Our mission is to be a platform for discovering, developing the avalanche sporting energies within the host environment and Africa at large, adopting effective coordinating methodology and contemporary technology."
He recalled that the first edition held in 2019 was participated by athletes from United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Kenya, Togo , China, Cameroon, to name a few, and implored for sponsorship from individuals and private institutions so as to make it a memorable event.
On his part, the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Commission, Mr Patrick-Estate Onyedum, represented by Ms Faith Okwonna, stressed the government support to the programme, as it would not only benefit the masses health wise but also boost the State economy, businesses and the environment at large.
Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Achebe, thanked OBS for the initiative, assuring that he would participate in the race as well as ensured that the event record success as planned.