Okpekpe Road Race organiser hails Ambode

Organiser of the Okpekpe 10km international road race, Mike Itemuagbor has congratulated Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for successfully hosting the second edition of Lagos City Marathon last Saturday in Lagos.
“I congratulate Governor Ambode for promising and delivering a world class marathon and Access Bank for sponsoring the event,” said Itemuagbor whose race, the Okpekpe 10km international road race is the first and so far only road race in Nigeria to get an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) label. I am particularly delighted that the second edition of the Lagos Marathon was a remarkable improvement on the first edition and hope subsequent editions would even be much better,” he further said and harped on the health implications of running.
“Health they say is wealth. A healthy nation will definitely be productive and by extension prosperous. And experts have not ceased to emphasise on the benefits of exercising to the body. By organising this marathon, the governor is not only promoting sports and tourism in Lagos state but also ensuring he governs over a healthy community of people.”
Itemuagbor also hopes Governor Ambode will strive to take the marathon to the next level by making it the first full marathon in West Africa to get an IAAF label.
“That will make Nigeria the only country in Africa to have two IAAF label races. With the conclusion of the second edition of the Lagos Marathon, organisers of the event can apply for a bronze label for the race and I am confident their application will be favourably considered.”
Meanwhile, the fifth Okpekpe 10km international road race will hold on Saturday, May 13 in Okpekpe, Edo State.