*As Expo comes to an end
Coordinator Lagos Women Run, Ms.Tayo Popoola, disclosed that parts of the initiative behind the 10Km race is to identify talents and empower women, bringing many people on board to have fun and network.
She said the ninth edition of the short distance race begins at the Tafawa Balewa Square and terminated at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
She emphasized the overwhelming turnout of people for the three days expo and to ensure that the event remain organised. Over 10,000 people have registered and we are expecting to have same number on the road.
Speaking at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, where runners are picking up their kits, Popoola posited that it’s about empowerment, fun and networking. “People are coming together to share ideas and at the same time they were able to learn some skills”.
She stated, “The empowerment is so huge that a lot of women don’t want to go because they feel that if they can gain this kind of experience, it would help them to be better persons at the same time support their homes”.
Speaking further, Popoola hinted that one of the motives behind the initiative is to celebrate women, adding that they have been able to identified different women with different skills.
She continued, “This year 2024 we told people that it’s more than a run. People have identified areas where they can empower themselves and it’s bigger than what they think. Women have come from different part of Lagos to be under that umbrella of run and for us as women,we found it that, if women are doing this to support themselves, to us it’s unique.
Coordinator LWR added that a lot of foreign runners had indicated interest and they have been coming to pick their kits as they use the platform to know more about the beauty of Lagos and to be associated with the city as it’s done in other part of the world.
“To us, it’s fun and we are happy about that.There’re a lot of foreigners that have registered and coming to pick up their kits” said Popoola.
Nancy Stany, who will be participating in the short distance race for the first time, described it as a group of women coming together to keep fit and engage in meaningful venture.
“This is actually my first time of participating in this program.l got to know about it on social media and am glad to be part of it”.
Stellar Monye, who come to collect her running number and kits, said her interest in the race is to support and encourage other women that they can do what others are doing.
“This kind of gathering is very great and encouraging. It brings women together, open eyes and make them realized that they could do more”.
The race will come up on Saturday 9th of November, 2024.
