By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Arrangements are in top gear by the Cross River State government to partner with a group of entrepreneurs operating under the aegis of Creation Associate to host the 42-kilometre Agbokim Falls Green Marathon race, scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 23, 2024
The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, CEO/MD of
Creation Associate, Mr. Emem Udominyang, a.k.a Text Spin, stated this on Sunday while speaking with our correspondent from Abuja.
Enumerating other members of the organization who are behind the marathon race, the CEO stated that entrepreneurs, former Commissioner for Culture, Tourism development, Mr. Eric Anderson, Mr.Felix Uyah and Ikpeme Bassey, are the ones behind the marathon race.
The group hailed the governor of the state, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for giving them the privilege to partner the state government in organising the marathon race.
The group averred that the winner of the race would go home with N2 million star prize, while the runner-up would cart away N1 million and consolation prizes for other winners.
The CEO maintained that the marathon would attract athletes from all the nooks and crannies of the nation to take part in the 42-kilometre Agbokim Falls Green Marathon race.
He stated that the marathon race will kick-off from Ikom, Four Corners, via Last- Motor Community, Mission Junction, which shares a common boundary with the Republic of Cameroon, and thereafter navigate through Ajassor community before hitting Agbokim Waterfall community, which is the adjudication point.
The sports enthusiast averred that the marathon, which is a trio pack, will help in the promotion of sports development, market the waterfalls and campaign for sustainable environmental conservation in the region.
He said, “This trail-blazing sports-tourism event is duly endorsed by the federal and state Ministries of Sports Development, the federal and state Ministries of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
“For that purpose, His Excellency, our amiable and ‘People’s First’ governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has taken care of all registration fees to make it a free-entry event for this first edition.
“Our expectation is that athletes will participate in one of the three categories of the distant race, either the full marathon of 42.195 kilonetees, or half marathon of 21 kilometres Kms or the fun marathon of five kilometres.”
Side attractions in the marathon will include awards ceremony and concert, athlete village, exhibitions, picnics, photo-bliss and prize monies presentations amounting to Twenty million naira.
The Sports enthusiast stressed that the marathon upon successful completion shall add value to economy of the state adding that very soon the Agbokim Waterfalls Green Marathon will produce long distant racing athletes who will compete at international to win laurels and make the state proud.
“With the marathon, complementary infrastructure would be developed at the falls for increasing appeal and patronage,making tourism development alternative economic hub for the State, while upholding campaign for environmental conservation.”. The CEO added.
