MTN Marathon: Bamidele wants more sponsors

“Nigeria is not all about our oil and it’s numerous natural resources; but it is about our people. Multinationals operating within the confines of this country must see to the development of these abundant human resources for optimal use and benefit.

“A sound human resource base will ensure that the youths who are largely unemployed will not become easy prey for terrorists recruit. They will not fall victims to these terrorists who have made our world much unsafe lately, as our environment will become safer for both the companies and ourselves who live in the country.” Hon. Bamidele spoke to a resounding ovation from his audience which also included the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu 1.

The event was the ‘Stakeholders Summit’ organised jointly by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the GSM telecoms giants, MTN Nigeria Communication at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels & Towers tuesday.

The Commissioner who is also ‘Honorary Chairman’ of the MTN Lagos International Half Marathon, stated that long years of ‘military mis-rule’ has rendered most of the youths unemployed thereby rendering them ‘restive’ and in most cases end up as urchins.

He therefore appealed to the big corporations to create employment opportunities for these ‘restive youths’ and also to engage in such social activities as the sponsorship of sport events in Nigeria.

“The fear of our youths who abound in the labour market being easy targets of terrorists organisations is very high, considering the level of restiveness we are seeing in the country. Long years of Military mis-rule has rendered these youths as hoodlums or what is popularity known as ‘area boys and girls.’ During the dark days of the military juntas when rule of force became the order of the day, these youths were rendered jobless and have now become social mis-fits,” he said.

He advised that “unless positive steps are taken fast to arrest this ugly trend, Nigeria may become a fertile ground for the breeding of terrorists.” Hon. Bamidele, a lawyer, was also former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) which took on military rulers in their unpopular anti-peoples policies. Oba Akiolu 1, ‘Royal-Father-of-the-day’ spoke on ‘Culture, Tourism and Hospitality in Lagos’ saying that sports can be blended to the peoples culture which in-turn brings out their hospitality.

He noted that “Lagos has a rich base of cultural activities like the Eyo masquerade and tourists centres like the Black Heritage and Bar Beach sites.” President of AFN, Dan Ngerem believes the MTN Lagos Half Marathon can fetch Lagos with an approximated population of 14-million people and the country a huge base of tourism opportunities.

He cited the first edition of the event in 2002 which was rated as the “most popular singular event in Africa,” and said “we can turn this around for the benefit of our collective gains.” “Athletics,” he added, “unlike football, bring people together. The low and the mighty, area boys and bankers, they all come together in one moment to forget about their social status to have fun in a race.

"There is no fracas, we all go on rejoicing and celebrating long after the marathon.” From the maiden edition’s registered participation figure of 17,500 in 2002, the 2004 MTN Lagos International Half Marathon is expected to gross in excess of 30,000 participants by next November.

By Jo Benson