He beat over 2,000 other athletes to the finish line to win the N1 million prize in an impressive time of 30 mins 40seconds.

Sadjo was trailed by Plateau State-born Adamu Shehu Mu’azu who came second at 31mins 22seconds, while Oyebode Dada Samuel from Osun State came third at 31mins 48seconds.

The State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was the special guest of honour at the event, presented the winners with their prizes and congratulated all the participants for daring to take part in the epoch making event.

Fayemi said his administration would not only invest in the education and human capital development of the youth, but would continue to partner with relevant private sector players in providing them platforms to showcase their God-given talents.

The overall winner, Sadjo smiled home with N1 million; the first runner up got a prize of N500,000 while the second runner up got N300,000.

The race was flagged off by the State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, in Aramoko- Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government  at 9:25am.

There were also winners in other categories, including the female elite category where  Rose Akuso from Plataeu State came first in 36 mins 51 seconds. She was trailed by David Abiye from Ondo State who came second in 36 mins 59 seconds, while another runner from Plateau State, Oman Sale, came third.

They also received  N1 million; N500,000 and N300,000 respectively as their prizes.

In the female indigene category, Adewole Hannah Jumoke, from Ikere Ekiti came first by reaching the finish line in 38 minutes 49 seconds.

She got N1 million.

She was followed by Sehinde Favour (43mins 32 seconds) and  Folorunso Fayokemi (44m, 38s), who took the second and third positions respectively.

Others in the indigene category are Abolaji Iyanu, who came fourth in  45mins, 74secs;  Oduluyi Jumoke who came fifth in 46mins,42secs.

Ekundayo Olajumoke (47min, 42secs), Anyigor Serah (49mins, 11secs), John Mary (49mins, 36secs) and Ajeyomi Bukola (49mins, 49sec).

In the male indigene category, Shedowo Adewale came first at 34mins 51secs, while Lawal Azeez came second at 35 mins 16 secs.

Arowolo Tunde came third with 36mins, 17secs.

Fourteen years old Dolapo Morakinyo, from Oke Imesi-Ekiti was apparently the youngest participant in the race and was the cynosure of all eyes as she got to the finish line.

No fewer than 10 ambulances manned by health professionals were deployed on the Aramoko-Erinjiyan-Ikogosi route, while the police, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the state’s peace corps provided security and crowd control along the route.

Governor Fayemi who said he was excited at the positive attitude of the young men and women that participated in the race, stated that government would continue to provide incentives to her sports men and women in different sporting activities.

The Ikogosi marathon race was organised by the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative in partnership with the Ekiti State Government.

Over 5,000 registered for the race online, while close to 2,500 collected racing materials which qualified them for the race on Saturday.

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This is as Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, assured participants in the race of adequate security and conducive environment for a hitch- free competition.

Fayemi who spoke in his office Tuesday evening when the organisers of the race led by Mr Niyi Labiran presented him with his race materials, said his administration would continue to provide platforms for citizens of the state, especially the youth, to showcase their talents.

The governor who restated his administration’s commitment to youth development, said his administration would continue to partner with relevant organisations in the bid to build the capacity of Ekiti youths and develop sports in the state.

Fayemi said his government would provide necessary support for the Ikogosi Marathon race and other sporting initiatives in the state in order to bring them to global standard.

The governor who said that the development of sports at the grassroots was a major agenda of the Youth and Sports Development ministry in the state, said the state was eager to produce world class sports men and women.

“It is our desire to engage our youths positively and that explains our huge investment in their education and human capital development. It is my belief that platforms like the Ikogosi Marathon will help discover more talents which we will then nurture,” he said.

Speaking also, Mr Labiran, the managing director of the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative, thanked the governor for his love for sports development and support for the marathon race.

Labiran revealed that no fewer than 2,000 participants, including 30 elite athletes had confirmed their participation in the marathon race, which is the first in the state.

According to him, the 2,000 participants had already collected their race materials (including jersey, number and other items), since the collection exercise commenced on Monday.

He added that 5,000 had registered online, while collection of materials would continue until Friday.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Michael Awopetu, said the state government had mapped out plans to nurture talents that would discovered in the marathon race and other age-grade sporting competitions in the state.

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