Who We Are
Vision:
‘To redefine the future of deprived children and youths wherever they may be using creative & established sports’.
The term ‘deprivation’ as used here refers to children and youths who suffer all manner of neglect, disadvantages, vulnerability and underprivileged situations, not only because they have lost their parents/guardians, but because other life trials have placed them at a position of deficit in well being and livelihood without clearly defined hopes and expectations. A state of alarming hopelessness sometimes attributed ‘erroneously’ to God or to ‘faith’.
This is what we have challenged ourselves as a foundation to fight, and provide windows of hope and expectations through our programs.
Mission:
To liaise and partner with international and local donor/charity organizations, educational institutions, sports organizations, local businesses cum enterprises, multinational corporations etc annually to deliver creative events that will unveil talents, encourage skills development; provide training and life support for youths.
Trustees of the Calabar Marathon and Carnival Race Foundation
Charlz Ada
Charlz is the Founder of the Foundation as well as President, Board of Trustees of the Foundation.
He has a 12 year history of participating in programs designed for needy and deprived children and youths dating back to 2004 when He joined the InnerCity Missions for Children (I.M.C.) at Aba, Nigeria. I.M.C. is a partnership arm of the Believers Loveworld Incorporated Nigeria (Aka Christ Embassy Churches) and specializes in cleaning our streets and communities of destitute, homeless, street children and giving them opportunities to live a life with excellent dreams and expectations.
Charlz joined I.M.C. partnership arm of the Church and contributed monthly to the upkeep of these children across the country. Up until date, Mr Ada is still a partner and regular helper to the I.M.C. and has several church awards for his show of care for the kids.
The desire to be significantly relevant in the growth and development of young people led Mr Ada to the discovery of the Calabar Marathon and Carnival Race Foundation.
Charlz believes that the greatest contribution that a people and a nation can put in place for her economy is to give young people, a proper life foundation devoid of lack while strategically investing in youth development.
Charlz believes that ‘All children & youths have a right to survive, to grow properly, to learn and be educated correctly and to accomplish their life dreams, expectations and opportunities to the gain of our society’.
It is the view of Mr Adathat sports education is a massive tool for peace, social and economic development and therefore should be used for youth development and financing education globally.
Charlz and his team have therefore created a number of sports products designed to lure youths away from child crime, while energizing them for an excellent future with ambition and tall dreams that the foundation intends to help fulfill.
He is a graduate of Economics of the University of Calabar, Nigeria and got his first employment offer as a banking assistant with First City Monument Bank, Aba-Nigeria in January, 2004.
Charlz also served as the Customer Service Manager of Ecobank Nigeria Plc (Calabar Highway and Uyo-Oron Road Branches) between 2006 and 2010.
He joined Cross River State Tourism Bureau as Marketing Manager in 2011 and is a member of the management committee of the bureau till date. He is currently the General Manager – Marketing and Head of Marketing Department, CRS Tourism Bureau.
Charlz is a 21st Century Leading for Impact Certified Trainee of the Gordon’s Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, S/Africa (2012). He is also a Certified Trainee of the British Council’s Creative Cities for Event Managers in Nigeria (2015).
He is married with three children.
Jude Amadi
Amadi is a renowned sports developer, trainer and administrator of significance. He started his career as a wrestler wining many contests for the State and growing to become the Director of Sports for the Cross River State Government. Amadi has played various roles in several National Sports Events hosted by the State including Nigeria 99, The All Africa Games and COJA 2000. He has also been part of the Local Organizing Team of the Obudu International Mountain Race which is held annually in the State.
Amadi fell in love with Calabar Marathon, a primary event that the foundation organizes in collaboration with other sporting agencies. Amadi sees the foundation as a tool for the facilitation of skills, talent and educational development for young people. This notion led Amadi to run with the vision of seeding into the growth processes of young people using the platform of the marathon race.
Amadi retired in 2020 as the Secretary to the CRS State’s Sports Commission. He is the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the Calabar Marathon & Carnival Race Foundation.