Cross River, Nigeria — The Winners of the recently concluded Skate-a-Thon Nigeria have received a total of ₦8.6 million in cash prizes from the event organisers on Tuesday.
The competition, held in Calabar, Cross River State, has been described as the biggest skating festival in Africa, featuring top-tier competitions including the 42km Skating Marathon (Male), the 21km Skating Race (Female), and Inline Hockey.
The convener of Skate-a-Thon Nigeria, Daniel Damola, confirmed that all prize money had been transferred to winners across the various categories following the successful conclusion of the event’s second edition in a statement seen by Punch online on Thursday.
Speaking after the competition, Damola expressed gratitude to participants and the people of Cross River State for their support, acknowledging that, whilst there were challenges, the event proved to be a major success.
He reaffirmed his commitment to making the 2026 edition even bigger, better, and stronger.
“The Skate-a-Thon Calabar is more than a sporting competition – it is a movement that combines sports excellence with tourism potential.
“With the energy and excitement it brings, we believe this platform can grow to become a global attraction, showcasing Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole,” Damola stated.
The convener also extended appreciation to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State for his unwavering support and for providing an enabling environment for the successful hosting of the annual event.
The Skate-a-Thon has created opportunities for athletes to showcase their talents whilst positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in roller sports.
The growing success of the event highlights the potential of sports tourism as a catalyst for economic and social development in Cross River State.
The competition attracted participants from across Nigeria, including athletes from Lagos State who were sponsored by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to represent their state at the international event.
Skateboarding’s recent inclusion in the Olympic Games has brought increased recognition and opportunities to the sport, inspiring greater participation across Nigeria.
Margret Oshinowo | August 21, 2024
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