42 foreign runners scramble to compete at the 2023 Abeokuta 10km Race

A total of 42 foreign long-distance runners have indicated interest in competing at the 2023 edition of the Lotus Bank Abeokuta 10km Race, which has been scheduled to hold in the Ogun state capital city on September 9.

The 10km race will flag off at the Iyana Oloke, Onikolobo and finish at the entrance to the Alake of Egbaland Palace, Ake, Abeokuta.

The foreign winners at the 2023 Abeokuta 10km Race, which is the third edition of the 10km race will go home with a total prize money of twelve thousand five hundred dollars.

The breakdown of the prizes according to the Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Company, Chief Bukola Olopade, would see the champion of the 3rd Abeokuta 10km Race go home with a cash prize of five thousand dollars, second place winner $3000, third place $2,000 and fourth place $1,500 and fifth place $1,000 making a total of $12,000.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Chief Bukola Olopade, Wednesday, declared that the 2023 edition of the Abeokuta 10km Race would be special in many ways.

Olopade, expressed delight over partnership of the race with Lotus Bank Ltd who are the title sponsor of the Abeokuta 10km Race.

He explained that the race which has been scheduled to hold in the city of Abeokuta on September 9, 2023 would be part of the week-long activities celebrating the 80th birthday of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

He disclosed that the front of the Alake of Egbaland would be the finish point of the race, which is the 3rd edition.

Olopade noted that: “there will be fanfare at the finish point of the race on September 9 after the race, with top Nigerian artistes performing to the delight of the runners and guests at the race.”

The Group Head, South West Marketing of Lotus Bank, Mr. Oluwafolajinmi Brodie-Mends, stated at the World press conference held at the Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta, that, it is important to use the Abeokuta 10km Road Race to help the youths in the state develop themselves and to also use the race to further expand the tentacles of the new generation bank.

The Project Manager of the event, Mr. Seyi Johnson of Nilayo Sports Mgt , disclosed that 42 foreign runners have already indicated interest to participate in the event.

He stressed that the September 9 race will flag off at 7am depending on the weather situation.

For the Nigerian runners, the first position will go home with a cash prize of N2m, second place N1million and third N500,000.

The fourth position will go home with a cash prize of N300,000, the fifth place will go home with N200, 000.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, during a courtesy visit to his Palace led by Chief Bukola Olopade, after the media briefing, commended the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited and the title sponsor, Lotus Bank for maintaining high standards in the state.