Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday flagged off the first Tito Makurdi Marathon road race.
The governor who was represented by the commissioner of industry, trade, investment, Merga Kachina promised to partner with the organiser to make it a global competition.
The event was put together by Tito group of a company, over 200 participants from Benue, Abuja, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba States.
Ortom expressed satisfaction with the marathon coming up for the first time in the state.
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The governor explained that many people would be inspired by what Tito group of companies Makurdi have done to live a more sporting and active lifestyle and commended management of the company for organizing the race for people across the nation.
” We are here flagging-off an event put together by a man who started plastic recycling in 1988 while doing his NYSC. A man who N17,000 as capital was enough for him to venture into business.
“This is synonymous to all sport, every athlete prepares through rigorous training. In life, we are all runners, little wonder, “Since my assumption of office, I have tried through business-friendly policies keep existing businesses and encourage private investors to harness the opportunities in the State”, Ortom stated
The organiser of the Benue Makurdi Marathon road race, Chief Isaac Akinkumi, said that he decided to institute the marathon race to promote distance race in the state and make youths to take advantage of the natural landscape of Benue.
Akinkumi encouraged people to engage in all kinds of sporting events for their physical and mental development just as he charged parents to show interest in developing their children’s talent.
He explained that sport is a unifying factor that brings Nigerians together not just soccer and promised to establish Tito Sports Academy that would develop children between the ages of 6&15 in order to capture sporting talents in the state.
Winner on the men category, Isaac Matthew from Kaduna State, won the 32 kilometres First Tito Makurdi Marathon Road Race in 1hr 41mins and took the star prize of N50,000
Elizabeth Nuhu from the Nigerian Customs Service Abuja emerged the winner in the female category in 1hr56mins, leaving Shimineger Agbe and Sandra Iorhembe from Benue State for second and third positions.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom presented the awards to the winners Isaac Matthew and Elizabeth Nuru, winner in men and women sides.
and then