Nigeria’s biggest bank by Assets value, Access Bank Plc has again thrown its weight behind local and international athletes as it redeemed over $185,000 prize money set for top ten marathoners in Lagos.
Also, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai flagged off the fifth Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
Nigerian Tribune reports that for the prize money, the first position for the 42 kilometre went home with $50,000; second, $40,000; third, $30,000; fourth $20,000; fifth, $15,000; sixth, $10,000; seventh, $8,0000; eight, $6,000, ninth, $4,000 and tenth, $2,000.
The lender believes in using the sporting event as a Corporate Social Responsiblity (CSR) touchpoint with the people through promotion of a healthy lifestyle, redefining the health/fitness paradigm of the state and the country at large.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, on Saturday fired the starter pistol of the fifth Access Bank Lagos City Marathon at the National Stadium.
Buratai signaled the start of the 42 kilometre race at exactly 6.30 a.m, in company of the officials of the state government.
A Kenyan athlete, David Barmasai Tumo, emerged winner of the Lagos marathon on Saturday morning.
Tumo’s 2:10:23 hours time was four minutes 41 seconds faster than Abraham Kiprotich’s record in 2018.
The race, which is championed by Access Bank, started in front of the National Stadium, Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, a 42-kilometre stretch.
The Third Mainland Bridge, Osborne road, Parkview and Lekki/Ikoyi link bridge were among roads that were closed for the annual activity.
Last year, Sintayehu Legese of Ethiopia won the marathon. He finished with a time of 2:17:28.
Kenyan Sharon Jemutai Cherop, was the first woman to finish the race.
Similarly, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Osaro Eghobamien, ran for ‘justice’ while well-known faces such as former Super-Eagles midfielder, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, also participated in the race.
Meanwhile, Buratai, was accompanied by top military officials, governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Segun Dawodu.
Others were the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Sola Ayepeku; DG, LSSC, Oluwatoyin Gafar, and wife of the former LSSC Chairman, Yemisi Tinubu, among others.
For the 10 kilometre race, the first position for Nigerians carted away N1million and a brand new Kia Rio, among other prizes.