Ijebu Remo Good To Host Madien Ultra Race African Championship-Ogba

Posted on July 1, 2019

L-R: Technical Manager, Remo 2019, Yusuf Alli, Falilat Ogunkoya, President Ultra Race International (Africa), Solomon Ogba, IAAF International Race Measurer, South African Norrie Williamson and Project Manager, Remo 2019 Value Jet Ultra Race African Championshiop, Mr. Bukola Olopade at the media event for the tournament in Sagamu, Ogun State on Saturday

President of International Ultra Race (Africa), Nigerian Evangelist Solomon Ogba has declared that the serene environment across the Ijebu Remo land in Ogun State is good for the hosting of the first-ever Ultra Race African Championship, which holds on Saturday, 7 December, 2019 in Sagamu and run across some towns in the zone to be terminated at the Sagamu Stadium.

Though Ultra Race has been in existence since 35 years with South Africa having regular staging of local races, the African tournament, where all runners will converge at a location for the Ultra Race, has never been organised.

The maiden tournament, which is tagged Value Jet International Africa Ultra Race Championship Remo 2019, is also going to be the first-ever ultra race competition in the world where prize monies will be given to winners.

Yusuf Alli

Ogba, a former President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) was so happy that this maiden edition of the ultra race is holding in Nigeria and it is in Remo land.

He said: “We shall mobilise all runners all over Africa down to Remo 2019. This event is a unique tournament when looking at the advantage of the rural setting we have in Remo land which is full of rich history and cultural heritage. Our plan is to have this first edition and then move for it to become the Africa qualifying tournament for the World Cup. I believe that someday we will have a World Cup being staged in Remo land,” he said at a media event held in Sagamu, Ogun State at the weekend.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that the routes for the race is being marked by one of the expert in the trade, South African Norrie Williamson, a former champion in ultra race, who commended the support the event has been receiving from the people of Remo. He added that a lot of benefits will be derived in the hosting of the race.

Williamson, an IAAF Level 1 measurer, who had measured four Olympic Gzmes, said that all hands will be on deck to organised technically-efficient tournament.

Technical Manager of the race, Nigerian ex-Olympian Yusuf Alii said the tournament will be competed in both individual and teams categories, with African nations registering for the team event.

CEO of the Patent Owner of the competition, Nilayo Sports Marketing Limited, Bukola Olopade said all effort will be put in creating awareness for corporate and Nigerians’ participation, adding that more of road races are needed in the country.

Falilat Ogunkoya, a former Nigerian athletic international assured the organisers that the people of Remo land, her place of birth, are ready to support and mobilise for the successful hosting of the maiden Africa Ultra Race Championship.