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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Obanobham III of Ogbia Kingdom, His Eminence King Dumaro-Owaba, has endorsed the upcoming Oloibiri Oil Well International Half Marathon and exhibition scheduled for Bayelsa State.
King Dumaro- Owaba’s formal endorsement of the global sports event scheduled for Q1 of 2027 to mark 71 years of Oil discovery in Nigeria was secured when the global events executive committee visited the monarch at his palace. During the visit, the project coordinator and chairman of the organising committee of the international sports event, Eyinimi Omorozi, provided an overview of the broader socio-economic objectives of the event for Ogbia land. According to him, the half-marathon event is designed to spotlight the historic significance of the Oloibiri Oil Well I, the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC), and the Otuabagi community where oil was first discovered in Nigeria in 1956.
He pointed out that the international sports event seeks to unite the preservation of local culture with international sports tourism.
“The marathon aims to attract both elite global athletes and developmental stakeholders to the region. The Oloibiri Well International Half Marathon and Expo celebrate the Niger Delta region’s economic legacy while driving youth empowerment, fitness, and peace.
“It blends professional athletes with arts, crafts, and business exhibitions, and a well-curated oil and gas photo exhibition to transform the event from a purely athletic competition to a holistic cultural and economic festival, thereby providing visibility for indigenous creators, highlighting local heritage, and stimulating direct economic impact in the Niger Delta.
“The overriding objective of the Oloibiri Well International Half Marathon and exhibition is to transform the Oloibiri Oil Well and the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre into an international sports and petro-tourism destination,’’ he stated.
King Dumaro- Owaba, in his remarks, commended the organising committee for their vision and commitment to immortalizing the rich heritage of the Oloibiri oil well.
The monarch pointed out that the initiative aligns perfectly with community developmental goals, providing socio- economic opportunities for youths and local entrepreneurs while drawing global attention to the historical legacy of the region.
The royal endorsement of the global sports event serves as a major catalyst for the event’s planning phase, with grassroots mobilisation adding to a growing coalition of backing from key stakeholders in the state.
