YEKEPA–ArcelorMittal Liberia has deepened its help for sports activities within the nation with the signing of a three-year sponsorship settlement with the Liberia Marathon Belief.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed on Tuesday on the firm’s Monrovia workplaces, commits ArcelorMittal to contribute greater than US $30,000 yearly as a grand sponsor of the Liberia Marathon. The settlement marks a brand new part within the long-standing partnership between the 2 establishments, aimed toward selling athletics and fostering nationwide unity by means of sport.
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Dedication
Talking on the signing ceremony, Marcus Wleh, Head of Sustainability and Exterior Relations at ArcelorMittal Liberia, described the sponsorship because the continuation of a fruitful collaboration with the Liberia Marathon Belief.
“We’re committing ourselves for 3 years to the marathon as a proud and prime sponsor,” Wleh mentioned.
“We look ahead to internet hosting a really profitable occasion as soon as the date and time are confirmed. Past this, we’re additionally exploring methods to help actions in our three operational counties—Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba.”
He disclosed that many ArcelorMittal workers, together with himself, will take part on this 12 months’s race, noting that the corporate is proud to contribute to such an essential nationwide occasion.
Liberia Marathon Belief’s Response
Charles Cooper, Board Chairman of the Liberia Marathon Belief, hailed the settlement as a significant enhance for the expansion of the marathon, which has been held yearly since 2011.
“We’re more than happy to be signing this MOU, which secures a three-year sponsorship dedication,” Cooper mentioned.
“This implies we are able to start preparations a lot earlier—supporting athletes, selling the marathon, and reaching out to our worldwide companions with sufficient time for them to plan to fly in for the occasion.”
He described ArcelorMittal Liberia’s sponsorship as a “substantial dedication” that may allow the marathon to develop its attain and impression.
Theme for 2025 Marathon
Cooper additionally introduced the theme for this 12 months’s marathon: “Wholesome Cities and Wholesome Lives.” He mentioned the theme displays the group’s imaginative and prescient of utilizing sports activities as a platform to advertise wellness and vibrant communities throughout Liberia.
ArcelorMittal Liberia has been an energetic supporter of sports activities improvement within the nation, with its most notable involvement within the Nationwide County Sports activities Meet, Liberia’s largest sporting competition.
In 2022, the corporate served because the prime sponsor of the event, contributing US $275,000, the most important single sponsorship within the occasion’s historical past. Of this quantity, US $250,000 was directed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports activities for the group of the video games, whereas Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties—the place the corporate operates—obtained focused allocations. Observers described the transfer as a big second within the development of company contributions to Liberian sports activities.
The sponsorship continued into the 2023–2024 version, when ArcelorMittal contributed between US $80,000 and US $125,000 regardless of operational challenges. The funding supported the group of the event, county-level preparations, and incentives for profitable groups. Past the County Meet, the corporate has additionally offered smaller awards to grassroots groups, together with River Gee and Rivercess counties, below its youth improvement initiatives.
The County Meet has lengthy been seen as a nationwide platform for unity and reconciliation, and ArcelorMittal’s sustained sponsorship has performed a job in making certain its continuity and growth. Analysts observe that this type of company help displays a broader development of personal sector involvement in nationwide occasions that promote social improvement.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been within the occupation for over twenty years. He has labored for a lot of worldwide media retailers together with: West Africa Journal, Africa Week Journal, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Occasions, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He’s the present correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in Worldwide Relations and a candidate for second grasp in Worldwide Peace research and Battle Decision from the College of Liberia.
