The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, FNIALS, Professor Epiphany Azinge has announced plans for the maiden edition of a 10 – kilometer Asaba International Road Race scheduled to hold on 5th October, 2025.
Asagba Prof Azinge, while briefing newsmen in his Palace on Wednesday, said the event, which would be his community’s contribution to the promotion of grassroots sports in the state and the country by extension, would attract long distance runners from within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
The Asagba said the international road race was expected to showcase Asaba to lovers of sports from across the globe as the fastest growing state capital in Nigeria and Africa, thereby boosting economic activities in the kingdom and pushing the rich cultural heritage of the Asaba people to the international scene.
The highly respected and influential traditional ruler assured that the would be epoch making event would afford the participants the opportunity to appreciate the monumental infrastructure upgrade, the reign of peace in Asaba and the hospitality of the people, which had made the capital city the preferred dwelling place for many non indigenes from across the country and a safe haven for investors.
His Royal Majesty stated that the event was just one of the ways he intended to brand and push Asaba to global reckoning, pointing out that the 5th October date proposed by the community’s Sports Promotion Committee, which he constituted, was acceptable to him because it coincided with his first coronation anniversary.
He commended the Committee for the speed with which it had handled its assignment, and expressed the hope that subsequent editions of the race would meet the international marathon standard of 42 kilometers.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Asaba Sports Promotion Committee, Ogbueshi Wing Commander Peter Iweze, rtd, commended the His Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, for his love and support for sports development and assured of the readiness of the Committee to deliver on its mandate.
Ogbueshi Iweze said the road race would not only attract seasoned long distance runners to Asaba, but also create a clear path to Asaba becoming a sporting hub.
The reverted sports administrator said the event would also stimulate the local and state’s economy, with the anticipated influx of thousands of participants from within and outside the country.
Earlier, the Consultant for the road race, Dr. Moses Nwanze, highlighted some of the activities lined up for the event to include registration and accreditation of participants, fanfare, display of traditional clothing and artifacts.
Dr. Nwanze said the 10 – kilometer road race would commence from the Stephen Keshi Stadium or St. Patrick’s College, through Anwai road, summit road, Mariam Babangida way, Okpanam road and end at the Cenotaph.
The Consultant, who is a member of the Planning Committee, disclosed that cash prizes would be presented to both male and female athletes of Asaba origin, those from other parts of Nigeria, as well as international athletes, stressing that registration would be free of charge.
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