BY LAW IBITOYE
The president of Ilupeju Development Association, Elder Banji Ogungbemi has said the best three marathoners in 2024 Ilupeju marathon race would be linked to sponsors that would better their lives.
The president spoke at the flag off of Ilupeju Ekiti 2024 Marathon race organized by Ilupeju Development Association on Thursday where all towns in Oye Local Government participated .
Elder Ogungbemi said the competition was to develop the youth and encourage them for greater competitions in future locally and internationally to win laurels not only for Ilupeju Ekiti but Nigeria as a whole. According to the president,” participation itself is a form of recognition, we have model cash prices for the three winners to be exposed to corporate sponsorship”.
He reiterated that active involvement in sporting activities would help reduce youth participation in social vices.
Declaring the marathon race open, the Commissioner for youth and Development, Hon Adesola Gold Adedayo stressed the importance of sports in fostering unity, peace, development and empowerment.
Hon Adesola Gold Adedayo, represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies Ministry of Youth Development, Mr Olatoye Anthony Babatope emphasized the commitment of Governor Oyebanji towards youth empowerment via sports.
He described sports as a unifying factor among the youths which transcend boundaries, instil discipline, promote healthy living and empower youths to channel their energies positively. “This marathon race exemplifies these values and underscores the importance of youth development in building a vibrant and progressive Ekiti state”.
Participants who were drawn from all towns in Oye Local Government ran from Iyana- Ire in Ilupeju Ekiti to Ire Ekiti and back to the take off point, in Iyana- Ire, Ilupeju Ekiti.
Ayeni OLUWADAMILARE and Agboola Demilade from Ijelu Ekiti came first and second, while AJAYI Igbekele from Ilupeju Ekiti came third.
The National Public Relations Officer of Ilupeju Development Association, Hon SEYI Aiyeleso( Oska) anchored the concept of the marathon race on unifying the youths and by extension to expose them to international sponsorships.
Oska added that Ilupeju Ekiti organized the competition to catch the youths young, build talents in football and marathon highlighting that the event is a novel development it has never happened in any town except the tournament organized by Ekiti state government through ‘E 11’ few years back.
The national image-maker of the association said a renowned marathoner, Dayo Akinbode, who had visited one hundred and two countries from Ikogosi would be happy to train the winners to compete internationally, pointing out their names would be sent to her.
In the same vein, Chairman, Ilupeju Ekiti youth sport Development, Ms Modupe KOLAWOLE, said Ilupeju Ekiti has been making unprecedented inroads in sport festival and this has brought the community to the limelight.
She identified football competition and marathon race as unifying factors that would engender mutual understanding in relating with one another thereby showcasing their talents that will put them in a better stead to compete favourably with their athlete counterparts across the globe.
The Ilupeju youth president, who is also the president of Oye Local Government, Engineer Femi Fagbemi said the marathon race would foster friendship and expose them to international sponsors who would build their careers and make them useful to Ekiti state and Nigeria.
Speaking with the best marathoners, Ayeni OLUWADAMILARE and Agboola Demilade,the duo said they were happy to come first and second. They believe that their careers would be facilitated through sponsors.
They commended the organizers of the programme, as the youth president assured the participants that the exercise would be sustained . Some of the towns that participated in the tournament include: Ilupeju, Ire, Ijelu, Oye, Ilafon and Itapa Ekiti among others.