By Uzor Odigbo

Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has assured Lagosians and lovers of Marathon race that the famed competiton will not be extinct under his watch.
Addressing a world press confrence on Wednesday at rhe state house in Ikeja, the governor noted that the Lagos/Access Bank marathon is mainly for the promotion of Lagos State and its tourism potentials, adding that he would do all in his power to sustain the marathon lagacy.
The 4th edition of the marathon comes up in Lagos on February 2nd 2019 with expected capacity of at least 150.000 runners, a departure from the 120.000 runners that participated in the 2018 edition.
Governor Ambode also informed that Lagos marathon would finally become a culture in Lagos and Nigeria in general just like it is in Kenya and Ethiopia.
“I”m positive that after the 10th edition of this event in five to Six years time, the event would have achieved its set goals in putting Lagos State on the World map of leading marathon nations in the world.
“We are set to promote tourism, entertainment and sports with the Lagos marathon and I’m glad to announce that the price money remains the same $50.000 each for male and female winners. Its not enough to say that athletes from other narions are winning and Nigerians are not. The big gain is in participation hoping that one day, Nigerians would start gaining from participation to winning the main event.
The governor whose tenure would end after the 4th edition passionately pleaded that the Physically challenged be continuously factored into Lagos marathon.
“No one or category of persons should be left out of the Marathon race, I’m appealing to the organisers to make sure the physically challenged were encouraged to take part in the Marathon”
He congratulated the organisers for a job well done in the last four editions and urged them not  to despair but work hard to earn the much expected Silver Label.
The Access Bank and sponsor of the event’s manager Hubert W’igwe assured that the finacial institution will do its best to maintain sponsorship of the event.
The AFN president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau pleaded with the marathon organisers to laise with AFN for proper technical support and aproval before organising any marathon event as failure to obtain necessary approval might  cause hiccups.
Lagos state sports commission chairman Dr. Kweku Tandor praised the committemnt of Gov. Ambode in the mararhon event and pleaded that the governor continuousely support the race.
Dr. Tandor announced members of the Lagos Marathon Council and the approval for the construcion of Lagos Marathon village at the Teslim Balogun Stadium which would direct and co-odinate all marathon activities in Lagos state.