Winners of 2023 annual Lagos Women Run will smile to the bank with bigger prize money and the participants will benefit from empowerment programmes.

The Convener of Lagos Women Run, Tayo Popoola, said at a media briefing to herald the 2023 edition, on Thursday in Lagos, that the prize money had been increased from N1 million to N1.5 million.

She also said some empowerment programmes had been added to the event to make it more beneficial to the participants.

“The 8th edition of the Lagos Women Run is bigger because there is an increase in the Prize money. Last year the winners got N1 million while this year’s overall winners will go home with N1.5 million.

“The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been supportive of this run and we have also enjoyed the support of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC),” she said.

Popoola added that the 8th Lagos Women Run would be unique as many empowerment programmes had been added to it.

“We have added series of empowerment programmes to spice the event up because we want to see to their well being and not just running alone.

“Many have their purpose of running; some for the fun of it, some for the prize money, some for their health, while someone even told me that he was running for his wife.

“The Lagos Women Run this year wants to impact more positively the lives of our women through exhibitions, lectures and vocational training.

“All the programmes lined up are tailored to improve the living conditions of the women” she said.

Popoola said the race had evolved over the years, fulfilling its mandate of empowering the women and giving them a platform to thrive.

“We have been creating our mission about women’s welfare, empowering the women in health and well being. Lagos Women Run is now about all-inclusive welfare package for the Lagos women.

“We have been able to extend the number of winners from each category from 10 to 20 winners, the open category will accommodate 20 winners, likewise the veterans category.

Tokunbo Bombata, Director, Office of the Chief of Staff, Lagos State government, said the annual Women Run would continue to grow bigger.

“We need more people to come and run like never before, because it’s not just a run now, but a means to change the lives of our women.

“It is sort of an empowerment programme, which is aimed at bringing women together and supporting them in small businesses and finance.

“We aspire to make the event bigger every year with more women participating, we can go up to 50,000 in attendance.

“We have had up to over 8,000 women registered already for this year’s edition and we plan to surpass last year’s mark of a little over 10,000. This year, maybe we will have up to 15,000 participants” she said.

Bombata also emphasised that there would be more awareness for the race to encourage more women to join.

She stated that the organisers were working to get more sponsors for the programme in order to review upward the top prizes.

The 8th edition of the race would held on Nov. 11 starting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island.