Nigeria’s High Altitude Runners Prioritising ECOWAS Marathon Over Others in 2025  

Olawale Ajimotokan  in Abuja 

Nigeria’s elite marathon runners from Jos-based High Altitude Athletics Club have revealed their priority for the year 2025 is to  compete and win the top 10 positions at the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.

Their decision is informed by the lucrativeness of the race, especially the 21 km and the organisers’ record of prompt payment of prize money. 

This was disclosed by the Director of High Altitude Athletics Club and manager of most of the elite marathoners in Nigeria, Stephen Nuhu, before the Christmas break.

He said they had all agreed to prioritise the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.

“We all left Pankshin where we normally train a few days ago to spend Christmas and New Year with our families, by the special grace we will regroup the first week of the new year, and our focus for the new year is the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon.

“We arrived at this conclusion because we have a very good chance of winning about eight of the top 10 positions in the ECOWAS race because it is a half marathon. For example, if our club produces the winners of the men and women’s races that is $10,000.00 each which comes to about N40 million in today’s exchange rate, we can’t get that kind of money elsewhere. 

“Even if we place fourth or fifth in the ECOWAS Marathon, it is more rewarding financially than what we will get when we win a full marathon elsewhere. We are grateful to ECOWAS because their race is empowering us and lifting us out of poverty,’’ Nuhu stressed.

The coach also praised the organiser for the prompt payment of prize money and the general organization of the race, saying they had never experienced a delay in the payment of the race’s prize money.

The 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon which is slated for March 1, 2025, will feature the 21 km and the 5 km races.

The 21 km will start and finish at the ECOWAS Commission, Asokoro and the 5 km race will start at the Eagles Square and also finish at the ECOWAS Commission.

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