ACCESS BANK LAGOS CITY MARATHON: Sponsors promise best marathon in history

The title sponsor of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Access Bank, has promised the world that the third edition of the showpiece will be the best ever in the history.

Speaking during a press briefing to announce the 2018 edition of the race in Lagos on Thursday, the Group Managing Director of the bank, Herbert Wigwe, said the bank will bring almost 100,000 marathoners across the world to Lagos for the race.

“February 10, 2018, Access Bank will once again bring together almost 100,000 marathoners converging in Lagos for the third edition of the race,” he said.

“When we started three years ago, people were wondering what we are trying to achieve, firstly, it was to show the beauty in Lagos, to show that the state is ready for business, also, we have to come together and change the narrative of Africa and most importantly Nigeria on how people see the country.

“People should be able to see that good thing can come out of the country, that Nigeria can host world class event, tourism is going to work in Nigeria and all the issues about security are really things of the past as far as Lagos State is concern. Hosting world class event will show that all the bad image about Nigeria was right.

“We are proud of what we have achieved and happy that we now have a Bronze label attached, the second time that any western country have achieved such feat in their first two years, Nigeria the second.”

While speaking also at the event, the president of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Ibrahim Gusau, announced that any record set at the race will be universal.

According to him, athletes competing at the race have the opportunity of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast also in 2018 and other major races in the world.

For the Chairman of GAC Motors, Chief (Mrs.) Diana Chan, one of the new sponsors, she said it was a must for the company to support the race.

Chan said: “One of the most important events we have been supporting is the Marathon, it is a must for us to be part of such a laudable event in the country, the marathon will show the real face of Nigeria compared to what the world are thinking of the country.”

Meanwhile, the general manager of the marathon, Yusuf Alli, has revealed that after getting the Bronze Label, the next target is to work towards Silver Label next year and in the next five years, the Gold Label.