… Lekki LCDA Showcases Tourism Potentials To The World
A 17-year-old Francis James, from Plateau State, has won the second edition of the Mangrove Marathon Race 2023 held on Saturday in Lekki Local Council Development Area, Lagos.
James won one million naira in the 10km eco-friendly race to beat other contestants including a former presidential candidate in the 2023 General Elections and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omowole Sowore.
James who expressed delight in coming out first among the males that took part in the competition said it took him six months to prepare for the race. He urged his fellow contestants to work harder next time if they must win the race.
A staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), David Abiye-Joyce, came first among the females in the competition. She expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for her to win the women category. Nothing She said that she had been winning athletic competitions for the NSCDC.
Earlier in his Welcome address, the Lekki LCDA Chairman. Hon. Rasak Kasali, expressed gratitude to organizers and participants of the Mangrove Marathon Race for identifying with the LCDA.
Kasali said that there was no denying the fact that mangroves were extremely important to the ecosystem. “We are in partnership with Mangrove Marathon because the event is timely and beneficial to our people and the development of our LCDA”.
According to the host Chairman, mangroves serve as a buffer between marine and terrestrial communities and protect shorelines from damaging winds, waves, and floods.
Kasali said mangrove thickets improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments from the land.
He, however, said that in spite of the wide ranging benefits, they were being destroyed. Kasali added that mangroves suffer from land based pollution.
The chairman noted that the benefits of mangroves were fast being eroded. “We as a government have continued to play our part and I call on captains of industries working within the Lekki LCDA to be environmentally responsive.
“I equally extend invitations to tourism enthusiasts to think Lekki LCDA and think investment in tourism. What we are witnessing today is simply ecotourism”, Kasali said.
Mrs. Tolulope Adeyo, Director, Ecology & Conservation, Ministry of Environment & Water Resources, said mangroves were very important to the Lagos State Government.
Adeyo said that Lekki has the longest stretch of mangroves in the state. According to her, mangroves are assets to the community serving as protection for fauna and floral in the ecosystem.
The Director-General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), in his remarks said Nigeria has the largest mangroves in Africa. He noted that Nigeria has one-third of the entire mangrove in Africa and the third most extensive mangrove ecosystems in the world after India and Indonesia.
The Convener of the Mangrove Marathon Race, Mr Jerry Chidi, described the race was a huge success. Chidi said the youth of Lekki LCDA were excited to take part in the race, not just for fun, but to create awareness for the conservation of mangrove.
According to him, the Local Organizing Committee of the Marathon Race plans to make it bigger in the coming years; 21km in 2024 and 42 Km in 2025.
The traditional ruler of Ise Land, Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan (Onise of Ise Land), pledged the support of the palace in the preservation and restoration of mangroves.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of prizes to various categories of contesters, planting of mangroves at the Ecopark Mangrove Sanctuary and Research Centre, Akodo Ise, by the dignitaries and a cultural display by Imale Owoyele from Apakin community in Lekki LCDA.
The Mangrove Marathon Lagos 2023 which held on July 29, was aimed at commemorating the international day for the conservation of the mangrove.
Dashmino 