Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is set to run in the second edition of the Onitsha City Marathon (OCM) which will take place on September 25, 2021, in Onitsha, Anambra State.
This was disclosed to reporters in Awka on Monday, March 22, 2021, by Philip Balepo, the OCM’s Head of Media and Publicity.
Recall that the Onitsha City Marathon was held for the first time on October 5, 2019, as the first international marathon in Nigeria’s south-east.
The sports event also attracted over 25 foreign marathoners as well as 700 Nigerian marathoners.
The former president, who was named Grand Patron of OCM, supported the marathon last weekend, according to Balepo.
Balepo cited Obasanjo as saying that he would personally flag off the race in Onitsha in September after receiving the OCM Organising Committee at his home.
“Exercise is beneficial to both the body and the soul, and it was a part of the former President’s daily routine.
“The wise man has agreed to serve as the Grand Patron of the Onitsha City Marathon.
“He expressed his concern and support for OCM and Nigerians who are particularly interested in physical fitness, particularly youths,” he stated.
Balepo went on to say that the 2021 edition of OCM would include a lot of new features, making it far superior to the first edition.
“We’ll have some board games for schools, such as scrabble, chess, Ayo, and checkers, as well as a bicycle race,” he explained.
The OCM is a project of the Onitsha Business School, which is headed by Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan.
Its goal is to find and harness a large number of sports talents among Onitsha youths.
