Tobi/Abiola Sprint Relays Meet receives massive boost as 4 South-West states declares support

Posted : 26 October 2023

The 2023 edition of the Tobi/Abiola Sprint and Relays Meet is set to be bigger than organizers initially planned, as athletics clubs and schools from four Southwestern states have expressed interest in participating.

An initiative of the world-record holder in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, and the renowned quarter-miler Abiola Onakoya, both based in the United States.

The duo started the competition a few years ago to provide budding athletes from Ogun State with an opportunity to showcase their talents, be discovered, and receive the assistance and support they need to advance their careers. If they merit it, they may receive scholarships to study in tertiary institutions.

The success of the program, which began as an initiative for the Ijebu Region, expanded to Ogun State, and now the grassroots athletics meet, is attracting interest from schools and athletics clubs in the Southwestern states.

Onakoya, in an earlier interview, revealed that the 2023 edition has the blessing of the Ogun State Governor, His Excellency Mr. Dapo Abiodun, who named Amusan Ogun State Youth Ambassador shortly after she broke the 100m hurdles record at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

A renowned shot-put and discus champion, Olawale Olatunji, who is the Meet Director, said that the 2023 edition will be held at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode from November 3-4, 2023.

"We are really happy that schools and athletic clubs from outside Ogun State want to participate in this edition; it shows that our youth are delighted with the opportunity Tobi/Abiola are providing for them.

"The young athletes are given a platform to showcase their talents at venues to be discovered, where they will come in contact with coaches and other stakeholders in athletics who will assist them in becoming world beaters like Tobi/Abiola."

Olatunji revealed that organizers were working on logistics to accommodate the interest of athletes from outside Ogun State.

"We are delighted to accommodate athletes from other states; the vision of the initiators of this project (Tobi/Abiola) is to make it a national, then continental, and a global meet one day."

Amusan and Abiola Onakoya are beneficiaries of youth development programs in Ogun State, which led to their discovery as young athletes.

"They both received scholarships to study at the University of El Paso in Texas, USA.

"Before they graduated from the school, both represented Team Nigeria at the youth, junior, and senior levels.

"After winning laurels for Nigeria and being good ambassadors for the country, they believe the best way they could give back to their community is to provide opportunities for younger ones," he said.

Amusan, who also won the gold medal in the event, is the first and only Nigerian to win a gold medal in the World Athletics Championships since the inaugural edition in 1983.

It is in recognition of her contributions to the growth of athletics from the grassroots and her achievements that earned Amusan the ambassadorial role.

Apart from certificates and medals, winners of this edition will also receive spike shoes, canvas, and other items, in addition to the prizes that will be awarded to winning schools.

Tobi/Abiola Sprint Relays Meet receives massive boost as 4 South-West states declares support

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