… As Osetoba Lauds Oyebanji’s Giant Strides in Sports Sector

Ekiti State is set to welcome athletes from across Africa as preparations intensify for the much-anticipated 2025 Ikogosi Marathon holding on Saturday, 8th November, 2025.

The Technical Adviser to Governor Oyebanji on Sports Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Olusola Osetoba who made this known while featuring on Ekiti Loni/Ekiti Today, a live radio programme in Ado Ekiti said over 5,000 amateur and professional athletes from within and outside the country have registered for the 17.5 Kilometer Marathon Race

She said the competition which began in 2019 has grown into a continental attraction that positions Ekiti as a rising destination for sports tourism

Dr Osetoba described the Ikogosi Marathon as a race that captures the true spirit of endurance, perseverance and grit.

She revealed that adequate logistics and security architecture have been put in place for a hitch-free event adding that Medical teams, ambulances and water points will be positioned strategically along the route, while security personnel will be stationed at regular intervals to safeguard participants.

Providing updates on the revitalized sports sector in the State under the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Technical Adviser to the Governor celebrated the resurgence of Ekiti United Football Club, which is now firmly in National League Division Two of the Nigerian Premier League after spending two years battling relegation at the lower tiers of the amateur football league

Osetoba who disclosed that Governor Oyebanji had increased the allowances of players and technical crews of both the Ekiti United FC and Ekiti Queens FC stressed that the two teams have pledged to do the State proud during the new sports season.

She noted that unlike what obtained in the past, Ekiti Athletes have put the State in the national and continental sports maps as they won Gold medals in both the National Sports Festival as well as the recent National Youth Sports Festival at Asaba in Delta State, stressing that two young female hand ballers from the State were invited to the National team where they represented Nigeria at a continental competition in Algeria in the 3rd quarter of this year

Osetoba commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his exceptional commitment to sports development, describing his reforms as transformative and unprecedented.

This, she said, has boosted the athletes’ morale and dedication.

The Technical Adviser further announced the ongoing upgrade of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, which include the completion in the laying of synthetic pitch, ultra modern tartan tracks, brand new spectators seats in the stadium, and the provision of other facilities thus making the Sports Complex to be capable of hosting national and international competitions.

She disclosed that a new hostel for athletes and two administrative blocks that would promote efficiency within the sports cycle in the State
and enhance operation were undergoing construction within the stadium premises.

“Because of what the Governor is doing, our athletes genuinely want to make him proud. They are winning competitions with dint of hard-work and proper training. Ekiti does not import players, we don’t use mercenaries ,” she added.

Beyond football as well as track and field, Dr. Osetoba highlighted the tremendous progress in other sports, including rugby, hockey and handball, lauding the Governor for fostering a thriving multi-sport environment.

She noted that the construction works at Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall initiated by the Oyebanji Administration around the Ekiti Kete Pavilion on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti was on course and will certainly be completed on schedule early next year.

According to the technical advisor, the hall will serve as a major hub for 18 indoor sports including basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, judo, kick boxing and some other emerging sports, with registration for participation already ongoing.

Also speaking on the 17.5km Ikogosi Marathon, Mr Albert Aluko of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative disclosed that winners under the elite category of the competition in both the male and female categories would each receive ₦2 million, ₦1.5 million, and ₦1 million for first, second, and third places respectively while Indigenous athletes will be awarded prizes ranging from ₦1.5 million to ₦50,000 for the top six positions under the male and female cartigories.

Aluko also noted that buses will take off at 5:30 a.m. from all local government areas to convey participants to the venue, reminding runners to come with their means of identification.

Another official from the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative, Mr Victor Boluwatife Odebunmi who also featured on the live radio programme noted that registration for the competition would be on till the evening of Friday, 7th November ,2025 stressing that the event is expected to make a powerful statement about Ekiti’s readiness to lead in sports development, community engagement and athletic excellence.