One good thing going on for the forthcoming Premium Trust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon is that the organisers and the major sponsor are in unity with what they want for the competition now and in the future.
To both Nilayo Sports Management, under whose stable the World Athletics-sanctioned long-distance race is being organized, and the title sponsor, Premium Trust Bank, they want to put in so much to make the first edition scheduled for Saturday 20 April 2024, in Abuja not only memorable, they also want to ensure that all the nitty gritty expected of a world-class race are in place for the one-day event.
Trust Nilayo Sports Management whose Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Bukola Olopade, is a guru in this business and interestingly, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, is a sports enthusiast whose passion and love for sports know no bound.
At a media conference to herald the maiden Premium Trust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon held on Monday at the bank’s Headquarters on Victoria Island, Emefienim said that the plan he and his Management Team have for the tournament is not just for it to be a reference point in Nigeria, but a platform to measure marathon engagement in Africa and across the world.
“We cherish the partnership we have with Nilayo Sports Management; we want the marathon to become a global phenomenon.
“We will give all support needed for the organisation of the event and are ready to support the quest for it to have a label status after this first outing,” Emefienim said.
Yusuf Ali, Technical Director, the Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission and former Nigerian athletics international, disclosed that a high power delegation of World Athletics will be on the ground for the race for the officials to take inputs of the best practice observed during the race as this will enable a quick approving process for the event to be given a label status even after the first edition.
“We are very much hopeful that the Premium Trust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon will break the record as one of the few races across the world that was given label status after the first edition.
“This requires great work to be done, and it is something we know how to do best. Abuja has some of the fastest routes in the world. We will deploy spy cameras to monitor against cheating, all the runners will have their names branded on the running bibs, while all the runners will be chipped.
“We are going to put in place measures that are found in international marathons across the world. If we can do this, I strongly believe that the Premium Trust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon is on the verge of making history by getting a label status after its very first edition. This is a rare opportunity, and we are sure of getting it done,” Ali said.
