By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State Tourism Bureau has unveiled a N1.2 million star prize for winners of the 2026 Calabar Marathon, as part of deliberate efforts to build the race into a world-class sporting event.
The Managing Director of the bureau, Mr. John Atsu, disclosed this in Calabar yesterday during an interactive session with journalists, led by the leadership of the Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, ahead of the marathon, scheduled for the last Saturday in October.
Atsu said that the bumper prize is aimed at attracting top-class athletes from across the 36 states of the federation and beyond, noting that increasing the prize money and improving organisation are key strategies to place the Calabar Marathon on the global athletics calendar.
He said, “The 2026 edition, with the theme ‘Run for Conscience Against Poverty,’ will be used to draw attention to the impact of poverty in our communities while promoting tourism and healthy living.”
Atsu stressed that the first male and female winners in the 21.1-kilometre professional category will each receive N1.2 million, while the first and second runners-up will go home with N700,000 and N400,000 respectively, representing over 20 per cent increase from last year’s prizes.
He added that to encourage local participation, N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 have been set aside for the winner, first and second runners-up respectively in the 10-kilometre indigenous race, while the first 28 finishers in the main race will each receive N50,000 as transport allowance.
Project Manager of the race, Mr. Charles Ada, said the event will feature a 21.1kilometre professional race, a 10-kilometre fun run and a five-kilometre charity and fitness walk, adding that the race will start and finish along the Carnival Calabar route with prize presentation at the Marina Resort.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Obi Ayuk, commended the synergy between the ministry and the bureau, while the state chairman of the Nigeria Association of Athletics Technical Officials, Dr. Victor Eyam, assured of credible officiating, calling for proper medical screening to avoid casualties.
He said, “We are very, very ready to make sure that this event becomes one of the best.”
