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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Cross River State roared to life on Saturday as Governor Bassey Otu flagged off the 2026 Calabar Marathon, declaring the 21.1km race a symbolic call to war against poverty.
Represented by the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Agnes Atsu, the governor said this year’s theme, “Run For Conscience Against Poverty”, was more than a slogan, as it was the soul of his administration.
“Cross Riverians, we are here again to do what we do best. This year’s theme resonates with what this government stands for. It says ‘Run for Conscience Against Poverty’ and we all know this administration came with a mantra of People First,” Dr Atsu said on his behalf.
According to her, the People First mantra that brought the administration to power over three years ago was built on a single resolve: to consciously fight and defeat poverty. The marathon, she noted, is a platform to reawaken the collective conscience to the plight of the vulnerable.
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The flag-off, held in Calabar, was preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of the late Managing Director of the Tourism Bureau, Mr Ojoi Ekpenyong.
Dr Atsu commended the Tourism Bureau, led by Mr John Utsu, and other partners for organising the race, describing it as the perfect curtain-raiser for the 2026 Carnival Calabar, Africa’s biggest street party.
She also disclosed that the state was set to host the Governor’s Golf Tour as part of activities for this year’s Calabar Festival, revealing that massive renovation was ongoing at the Calabar Golf Club to put Cross River on the global tourism map.
The Calabar Marathon features a 21.1km half marathon for professionals, a 10km category and a 5km race for home-based and fun runners.
