The coach told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that the event, which is the second edition and is billed for Dec. 21, needs massive support.
“I recently met the Aba Half-Marathon’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) at the just-concluded Okpekpe Road Race in Benin, and from what I have seen good support is needed.
“Such support will help make the event a huge success,’’ he said.
Nuhu also appealed to the Abia Government and corporate organisations to help develop distance running in Nigeria by making events such as the Aba Marathon viable through sponsorship.
“Sponsoring events such as this is a form of Corporate Social Responsibility which not only leads to the discovery of new talents, but also keeps the youths engaged, whilst improving the local economy and encouraging tourism.
“We therefore need the state government and companies to partner with organisations such as the Abia Half-Marathon LOC to help develop distance running in Nigeria.
“We have capable coaches and quality athletes and I believe that Nigeria can be a household name in distance running in the not-too-distant future if we get the necessary encouragement,” he said.
The coach further appealed to the LOC to increase the prize money for the competition, while he also commended it for the high standard of organisation witnessed during the 2013 edition.
“I am delighted that the Aba event has become a half-marathon which can compete with any of the popular ones, such as the London, Boston and New York Marathons, in terms of standard,’’ he said.
Saturn Communications, which is the parent company of Magic FM 102.9 Aba, is organising the half-marathon.
Speaking also to NAN, Mr Seye Adebayo, a member of the LOC, said the event was “part of Saturn Communications’ commitment to sports development in its area of operations and Nigeria as a whole’’.
He said the Aba Half-Marathon was designed as a way of giving back to the society and the city of Aba.
“The initiative is driven by the abundance of talents in athletics in the area, believing that the half-marathon will showcase and boost the athletic skills, talents, potentials and capabilities of indigenes,’’ Adebayo said.
He said efforts were ongoing to make sure the 2014 Aba Half-Marathon was of international standard and hitch-free.(NAN)