Lagos Set for First Media Marathon

The stage is set for the inaugural edition of the Lagos Media Marathon. At a press conference held thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, the modalities and motivation behind the 10km Road Race were revealed to newsmen.

The Chairman of Lagos Media Marathon Committee, Tony Ubani, said it was necessary for journalists and indeed the public to give a closer look at their health and fitness.

Ubani noted that the planned marathon race is just one of the several programmes being put together to help media practitioners stay healthy.

“We are opening the event to all our members and we want to try as much as possible to show the world the wonders that Lagos State have been doing.

“Our aim is to prolong the life of our journalists. Lagos is the Mecca of journalism in Nigeria and we want to take advantage of that,” the Lagos Media Marathon committee chairman stated.

On his part, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr. Qasim Akinreti, noted that a media marathon is quite novel, and he expressed delight that Lagos is blazing the trail yet again.

“This is first of its kind in the whole world because we have never heard of it before and that’s why it is extremely unique and with the support of the state government, we believe we are going to get the best.

“I am looking forward to the success of the media race. We want to add our own little contribution to the development of tourism, arts and culture in Lagos State.

“For Lagos journalists, we want to add value to marathon in Lagos and Nigeria.” The Lagos NUJ chairman stated.

In his own remark, the Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandor, assured that the Lagos Media Marathon will be well supported by the state as it falls into the action plan of his excellency Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

Tandor noted that marathon is a culture and not just an event and that culture is already finding its roots in Lagos.