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As a mark of honour for one of Nigeria’s greatest athletics managers, the late coach Tobias Igwe, athletes from all five south-east states of the federation and others from the south-south and south-west region are warming for the maiden memorial classic named after him.
Though the Classic, the first of its kind in the country is scheduled to be held in 2025, the organisers are already having a hectic time trying to contain the increasing number of athletes who have signified interest to be part of the event.
Sponsor of the Classic, United States-based former 400m hurdler Victor Okorie, stated yesterday that the maiden Tobias Igwe Memorial Classics would be held in Enugu.
“We are looking at May 31, 2025, as the date for the Classics,” he said.
Okorie was one of the most gifted hurdlers who rose from the school sports system to rule the National Sports Festival, winning back-to-back in the 400m hurdles at Imo ‘98 and Bauchi ‘2000. He was one of the athletes discovered and nurtured to stardom by the late Tobias Igwe in the city of Enugu during the golden era of Nigerian athletics.
According to Okorie, a representative of the Southeast on the Board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the arrival date for the Classics is Friday, May 30, 2025.
“Initially, we wanted only athletes from the five south-east states to take part in the maiden edition, but as we speak, athletes from some states in the south-south and south-west have indicated interest to be part of the event. Everybody wants to be part of the Classics to show their respect for the late Tobias Igwe for the good work he did for Nigeria athletics,” Okorie, a silver medallist at COJA 2003 African Games, said.
Apart from Victor Okorie, the late coach Tobias Igwe (popularly known as Toblow) discovered and nurtured top Nigerian track and field stars, including Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Davidson Ezenwa, Uchenna Emedolu, Clement Chukwu, Raphael Ihunaegbo, Tina Iheagwam and Charity Opara. These athletes went on to make a great impact in the athletics world, giving the Americans a run for their money when Nigeria’s athletics was a force to be reckoned with globally.
Okorie recalled how the late Toblow took him from the street of Enugu some years ago. “Coach Igwe was a legend, a hero and a great Nigerian. He was the one who took me from Enugu state, where I was residing at that time, to represent Abia (my state) at the Imo ‘98 National Sports Festival. I won a gold medal for Abia State. Under Coach Igwe, I was able to defend my sports festival title at Bauchi 2000 before leaving Nigeria for a scholarship in the U.S.
“Coach Igwe was like a father to me and many other Nigerian athletes. He was a man of peace and he does not hold grudges towards others. Coach Igwe would use his last kobo to make sure that his athletes were fed. He sacrificed so much for those around him to make their lives better. Let this great legend of our country get a well-deserved Memorial Classics. His legacy will continue to live on,” Okorie stated.
