Organiser, Sponsors Plan Big For JAC Motors Abeokuta 10km Race

Posted on July 25, 2019

Organisers and sponsors of the marathon race, which the city of Abeokuta will host on Saturday, 3 November, 2019, have promised a memorable event that will be a talk of the town in the history of the capital city of Ogun State, Nigeria

The race, tagged JAC Motors Abeokuta 10km Race 2019, is being organised by Nilayo Sports Management with sponsorship coming from JAC Motors, the title sponsor. JAC Motors is the only Chinese brand with full range of vehicles in Nigeria. Other sponsors include Landwey Investment Limited, one of the biggest real estate companies in the country, Bet9ja, an online bookmaker company that offers betting on major sporting events operating in Nigeria, Rite Foods Limited, manufacturer of Bigi Drinks, Rite and Bigi Sausages and Fearless Energy as well as IBD International Hotel, Abeokuta.

CEO of Nilayo Sports Management, Bukola Olopade told a media conference to flag off the countdown to the race in Abeokuta on Thursday that the Government of Ogun State is solidly supporting the staging of JAC Motors Abeokuta 10km Race, adding that the International Amateur Athletics Federation, IAAF has licenced the race event even before it is being held.

“The JAC Motors Abeokuta 10km Race will go down in the history of marathon race as the first-ever race in the world which IAAF will licence before the race is held. The reason is that when the IAAF officials came for the inspection of the routes, they discovered that the routes have the best stretch with unique topography,” Olopade said.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that the routes for the race has the starting point at Onikolobo Iyana Oloke junction running through Omida Market, leading up to Ake Junction, through to the iconic Itoko around Saje, with the Alake’s Palace as the finish point.

Olopade, whose Nilayo Sports Management, has been the facilitator of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon since inception, disclosed that the Abeokuta 10km race will be a unique historical event as all the traditional rulers in Egba Kingdom headed by His Royal Majesty Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, the Alake of Egbaland, have endorsed it.

“We want to replicate the glamour associated with the Lagos City Marathon in Abeokuta on 3 November this year. This is a race that will change the lifestyle of the people, create healthy living and boost the tourism potentials of the ancient city of Abeokuta and its environs. I am very grateful and emotional bringing the race which will involve athletes from all over the world to my city, Abeokuta,” said Olopade, former Commissioner of Sports in Ogun State.

Ademola Phillips Adewunmi of JAC Motors said the company is proud to associate with the organisers of the race, adding that “we have seen what Nilayo Sports has done in the past, and we believe that we can also champion something great to develop Ogun State. Marathon race for us has to do with development and exposure, and we see this competition to showcase our brand to the people of Ogun State and create job opportunities, and more importantly we are privileged to be part of an event which will showcase Ogun State to the world.”

Managing Director of Landwey Investment Limited, Olawale Ayilara said his company is very passionate about the Abeokuta 10km race because he is looking forward to seeing the glamour which the marathon race always bring to the city of Lagos being replicated in Abeokuta which happens to be his home town.

“This is an event that will further push the city of Abeokuta to the world limelight in sports and tourism. Anytime Lagos City Marathon is being held, the city of Lagos is always on lockdown and I look forward to seeing our city Abeokuta being lockdown on 3 November. This is what we are proud of and we will ensure its success at all costs,” Ayilara said.

Femi Osobajo of Bet9ja said JAC Motors Abeokuta 10km Race aligns with the vision and philosophy of the sports betting company which is out to change life and improve on the healthy living of the people. “I want to assure that at Bet9ja, we are solidly behind the success of the race and we are in partnership with the organisers to make it a glamorous one,” said Osobajo.

The Project Manager of the event, Seyi Johnson said that the routes of the race have been marked by the world-renowned IAAF marathon measurer, Norrie Williamson, while the race, which has been endorsed by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), is duly certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).