Four winners of the Ebonyi national half marathon have smiled home with one million naira (1,000,000.00) each.
Anyigor Modesta from Ezza North LGA and the winner from the male Agu Paul Oko is from Afikpo LGA won at the state level.
While, Ishimale Sirjor from Cross river and Blessing Sambo from Plateau State won 1,000,000 at the national level.
Owoh Francis received from Ezza north and Nkem received 800,000 to emerged 2nd position at the state level.
Also, residents within the state, Okoro Emmanuel from Uburu and Faith Nwankwo Ohaukwu won N500,000.00 won 3rd position for the male and female.
This was disclosed at the concluded the first Ebonyi half international marathon race 2024, held in Abakaliki, the State capital.
However, stakeholders including the member Representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency Hon. Chinedu Ogah and the Senator that represented Ebonyi central between( 2015-2023) Obinna Ogba, commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for revitalising sporting activities in the state.
Recall that the marathon race held in the state was the first since the creation of the state in 1996.
They noted that sporting activities in the state will bring innovation into the development of the and sport sector.
Ogah said “I thank the State Governor, Ogbonna Nwifuru, for making it possible by ensuring the athletes get all the necessary items before and during the event.
“Thank you, governor of Ebonyi State, for releasing the fund worth millions of Naira to the ministry for awarding the athletes, which included our brothers from the Northern origin.
“This means that the governor is not tribalistic and he doesn’t segregate and the act worth’s every commendation.”
Ogah, also commended the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Richard Idike for his speed in promoting sports using his ministry.
“The Commissioner for Sportsq is up and doing to have made the environment conducive for the athletes, and other participants during the event, keep it up.
“We enjoyed the coordination of the event and we will always come back home from Abuja anytime this type of event is taking place in the state and this is the first of it’s kind since the inception of office of the governor of Ebonyi State.”
Governor Nwifuru represented by the Deputy, Hon. Onyemachi Obila, the State Secretary General, Prof. Grace Umezurike, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Moses ije Odunwa, Senator Kenneth Eze, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Obinna Ogba and other state appointees were all present during the event.
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