Winners of Deji Tinubu Athletics Classics get cash rewards

Posted : 31 October 2024

Winners of the *maiden Deji Tinubu Athletics Classics* received their cash rewards on Wednesday.

The cash presentation ceremony was held in the DICL conference room at 1, William Carew Street, off Sylvia Crescent, Anthony Village, Lagos.

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Winners of the inaugural athletics competition received various cash prizes, including the 1st prize of N1 million, awarded to Agroterra Blessed Athletics Club, Ogun State.

The second-place team, Udo Obong Athletics Club Academy, received N600,000, while the third-place team, Eagle Sight Athletics Club, received N400,000.

Yemisi Tinubu, the competition chairperson, expressed delight over the success of the maiden athletics classics.

"I am grateful that the presentation of the cash awards has finally happened; we've had this in mind for quite a while.

"Seeing it come to pass is exciting and something to be grateful for.

"The next edition is scheduled for next year since it's a bi-annual competition, and it's going to be bigger and better.

"We look forward to rewarding more athletes and having more clubs participate in the competition," she said.

The wife of the late former Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) also mentioned that the competition, held in her late husband’s honor, aims to support grassroots athletics development in Lagos State.

"In honor of the person we’re celebrating, we will ensure quality, as he was dedicated to discovering, encouraging, and rewarding talent.

"Next year’s edition will be even larger than the first, with more publicity to increase awareness and additional support from sponsors.

"The chairman of the Lagos State Athletics Association (LSSA), Solomon Alao, has been of immense help because organizing the event seemed overwhelming at first.

"We’re grateful to have someone with a shared passion for excellence; it makes coordination much easier. We aim to bring in more sponsors and invite partnerships," Tinubu added.

The former athlete continued: "For those who knew Deji personally and professionally, this is the time to support us because he stood for excellence and was a remarkable gentleman.

"It will be seven years in January since Deji passed, but it feels like yesterday, and people still speak positively about him.

"We want this competition to support athletes. I was once an athlete myself, which is why athletics is one of my passions.

"There are children out there who might not excel academically, but they have talent on the track, and we need to give them that opportunity.

"These underprivileged youths need a platform and exposure. The children who earned scholarships—about 70 of them—wouldn’t have had this chance otherwise," she shared.

Tinubu also hinted that future competitions would expand to include more secondary schools.

"We’re truly pleased with the competition, and moving forward, we might expand it to secondary and tertiary institutions.

"Next year’s event will be even greater. Deji Tinubu was a Lagosian at heart, with a strong passion for grassroots sports in the state.

"There is potential to grow this into a national event, but we need to perfect it locally before expanding.

"In future editions, it could go national, as athletes from all over Nigeria participated this year and represent Nigeria at international competitions," she concluded.

The LSSA Chairman, Solomon Alao, added that the competition had made its mark in the state and would be even bigger in future editions.

Winners of Deji Tinubu Athletics Classics get cash rewards

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