By Magnus Emuji
Stakeholders in the society, especially government, corporate organisations and good spirited individuals have been urged to evolve critical measures towards encouraging youths to harness their potentials through participation in sporting activities.
The sponsor of the 2022 ten kilometres race for adults, female and male students and civil servants in Ughelli and Asaba respectively, Mr. Princeton Akpojaro made the call in Asaba shortly after conducting the second edition of the competition which featured presentation of cheques to winners of the first , second and third positions.
Akpojaro, who advised youths to embrace the sport of long distance running and participation In race, said that he had been running marathons for about 27 years.
Earlier, the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE) for Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state, Djoma commended Princeton Akpojaro for the initiative, adding that it was worthy of emulation.
Djoma, who stated that sports was important in the health and overall well-being of any individual, assured the sponsor of the competition that private schools would be informed to participate in the next edition so as to increase the number of participants.
In an interview with some of the winners including Joshua Avwaruroro , Mr. Anthony Akporaivi, Terry Iriviepa , Tony Agada and Emmanuel Ebule who who clinched the first position for adult category, described the gesture as morale booster and lauded Princeton Akpojaro for investing in the lives of youths in the state through the initiative.
They called on youths to embrace the initiative, adding that the sponsor had given them uncommon empowerment.
Others who spoke including the winner of the girls category, miss Onyebuchi Amerewe from Ibusa Girls Secondary school, Isaac Chukwunweike from Osadenis Mixed Secondary School, Asaba and Gold Success who won the female adult category noted that apart from the cash reward they received from the sponsor the competition had positive effects on their health just as they said that it was important to engage in sports in order to be much healthier.
It could be recalled that the winner of the first position in both female and male students categories as well as female and male adult category got between the sum of eighty thousand naira and one hundred thousand naira each while the second position received were gifted with the sum of forty thousand naira and fifty thousand naira respectively as well as the winners of the third position, just as the civil servants that came out first , second and third got their cash rewards.