Ani Bassey

Organisers of the annual 10km Owan Marathon have announced plans to sponsor promising athletes to Nigeria’s two elite marathon races, the Lagos City Marathon and the Okpekpe International Road Race, scheduled for February and May 2026 respectively.

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The disclosure was made by the marathon’s organiser, Mr. Chris Ojo, while reflecting on the just-concluded edition of the Owan Marathon in a statement made available to journalists.

Ojo explained that although the race is in its seventh edition, the decision to sponsor athletes, particularly those of Edo State origin, is aimed at grooming them for international success.

As part of the initiative, he said a professional coach would soon be unveiled to train the selected athletes and prepare them for participation in the Lagos and Okpekpe races.

“This is the essence of the Owan Marathon: to discover talents and groom them for global stardom,” Ojo said.
“The only way to prepare them for that level is to consistently expose them to major marathon races in Nigeria and beyond.”

Speaking on the recently concluded edition, Ojo described the event as a huge success and revealed plans to engage a consultant to elevate the race to international standards.

According to him, the consultant will be responsible not only for marketing and promoting the event but also for contributing to the planning and overall organisation of the main race.

“All these efforts are geared towards standardising the Owan Marathon, which has started attracting international athletes, particularly from Ghana and other neighbouring countries,” he said.

Ojo noted that the race, which was initially dominated by athletes from Owan and other parts of Edo State, has progressively expanded to include participants from across Nigeria and beyond.

“The 2026 edition saw Ghanaian athletes stealing the show, as they won three of the six top prizes across the male and female categories,” he added.

The organisers also observed increased interest and participation from the Edo State Government and the Owan Local Government during the 2026 edition.

Ojo specifically commended the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Mr. Desmond Enabulele, for their involvement.

“Their roles brought added glamour to this year’s event, and their promise of full participation in future editions is a major boost for us,” he said.

Ojo stated that he initiated the annual marathon to provide a platform for discovering and nurturing athletic talents, particularly from the Owan community.

While expressing satisfaction with the consistency of organising the event since its maiden edition, he admitted that the marathon has not yet reached its full potential.

According to him, this informed the decision to engage a consultant beginning from the next edition, as part of efforts to reposition the race for greater impact and international recognition.