The organisers of the inaugural edition of the Abuja International Marathon (AIM) revealed that only students aged 17 or below from Nigerian secondary schools, either private or government-owned, are to be rewarded as winners of the 5km student race on April 29.
Adamu Hashimu, the FCT Director of School Sports, reiterated on Thursday that the reason for the 5km race is to spur the youth of the state and the country to take up participation in road races and marathons.
“Nigerians who are familiar with the performances of our people will remember that when the world record in the marathon was 2 hours and 8 minutes, Nigerians like Abass Mohammed and Yohanna Waziri were running 2 hours 14 hours, a very good time that has won about seven editions of the Lagos Marathon,” Hashimu said.
“In the FCT Sports Department, we have our own Hulda Nwokocha who once placed fifth in the marathon at the World Universities Games.
“So we need to start a development program that sees our students especially those from the Northern part of Nigeria, who have similar physiological traits with Kenyans and Ethiopians, embrace the culture of marathon and road races at a tender age.”
Hashimu further revealed that organisers of the race, Unicentral Resources Generation Limited and the Federal Capital Territory Association (FCTA), will ensure and confirm that the information provided by the students during the registration phase is valid before they proceed to dish out the prizes.
The Abuja International Marathon is the first international marathon in the FCT, and is divided into three categories: the 5km students’ race, the 10km family run, and the 42.195 km full marathon.
The much-anticipated race event will commence at the City Gate and end at Eagles Square.
