Adamu Mu’azu Shehu and Plateau state’s Rose Akusho on Saturday emerged winners in the men and women categories of the 4th edition of National Anti-Corruption Marathon race held in Abuja.
The 21km race flagged off by the Hon. Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, PCC, Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf, at the Unity Fountain, saw Adamu Muazu Shehu win the men’s category in an impressive time of 1 hr 09. 49 secs to win the N1m prize money.
The victory is the fourth consecutive one for the runner in the race.
In the women’s category, Rose Akuso held sway winning in a time 1hr:20: 00secs to also defend her title and going home with N1m prize money in the women’s categories.
Thirteen year old Francis James who came second in the men’s race and his female counterpart, also thirteen year old Vera Yohanna said their future is bright in the marathon race.
Speaking with our correspondent moment after winning the event, Shehu said his ultimate goal was to replicate the feat in subsequent editions and he’s looking forward to compete with athletes from East African countries in other high profile marathon races.
Akusho on her own said her focus now is to concentrate on the upcoming National Sports Festival coming up in Edo-state.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Commissioner, PCC, Mr. Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf, said the National Anti-Corruption Marathon was put together as one of the commission’s strategies to intensify campaigns against corruption through sports.
Nasarawa state sports commissioner, Ambassador Lucky Isaac Yargwa, who represented the governor of the state at the event commended the organizer of the event insisting that the state has zero tolerance for corruption and that every Nigerians must joins hand to fight the dreaded menace who is on the verge of killing the nation.
National coordinator of the marathon and Executive Director, Fair-Play Sports International Agency, Jacob Onu, explained the correlation between marathon race and the fight against corruption.
Other stakeholders across different works of life spoke on their support to enable the organizers to constantly engage the youths through the platform of the National Anti-Corruption Marathon.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of medals and certificates to the athletes that participated in the National Anti-Corruption Marathon.
The 2022 National Anti-corruption Marathon event is jointly organized by the PCC and Fair-Play Sports International Agency.
