Ekiti State Government on Saturday rewarded winners of the Ikogosi 17.5km marathon with a cumulative N15 million, including special prizes for indigenous athletes, as part of efforts to encourage local participation, promote sports, and empower youth in the state.
It was reported that the race started at Ilawe Ekiti and concluded at Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort. The award ceremony was also held at the resort, where the Race Consultant addressed participants and attendees.
In the male category, Iliya Raymond Gyang emerged the winner, finishing the race in 57.33 minutes, and walked home with N2 million. Francis James, who came second in 57.44 minutes, received N1.5 million, while Sadjo Ismael, who finished third in 59.16 minutes, got N1 million.
In the female category, Blessing Shamboa claimed first place with a time of 68 minutes and a prize of N2 million. Akusho Lydia Thomas, finishing second in 70.12 minutes, received N1.5 million, and Nvou Gyang Tanko, third at 71.15 minutes, took home N1 million.
The state government also recognised indigenous athletes, awarding N1.5 million, N1 million, and N500,000 to the first, second, and third-place winners, respectively.
Among male indigenous runners, Tunde Segun from Otun Ekiti came first, Sunday Ijoko from Ijero Ekiti second, and Agbalaya Alayande from Ado Ekiti third. For the female category, Ona Ara Popoola from Ilawe Ekiti won first, Imisioluwa Ajayi from Igbemo Ekiti second, and Maria Ojanbati from Omuo Ekiti third.
For the female category, the winners are Ona Ara Popoola from Ilawe Ekiti (first), Imisioluwa Ajayi from Igbemo Ekiti (second) and Maria Ojanbati from Omuo Ekiti (third).
The Race Consultant and Technical Committee Lead of the Ikogosi Marathon 2025, Femi Abegunde, said the marathon was a huge improvement over the maiden edition, which was held in 2019.
Abegunde said, ‘On the portal, we have almost 6,000 registered runners. But you know, it’s not everybody who registers who runs. So, plus or minus, we have a decent number. Above 3,500 athletes participated in the race’.
The technical committee lead hailed Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji for the marathon, which was the second edition, saying, ‘We are so happy that the government of Governor Oyebanji saw the need to continue to propel this idea even bigger than it has been.
‘So for us, we see a lot of camaraderie. We see a lot of community spirit. Sport is a very strong tool to galvanise the youth. It’s a very strong tool to get youth to go away from vices and evil things’.
‘It is a very strong tool for empowerment. You can imagine how many people were empowered on this project in the last six months, from media people to carpenters, vendors, to food sellers. All of those value chains are what events such as this bring to you to build a lot of economic commerce in the state’.
Abegunde praised the organisers for creating a category to support local runners, noting it helps encourage participation and discover new talent in Ekiti. He added that lessons from this edition would be used to improve future marathons, with the long-term goal of making the event competitive on a global scale.
A former Chairman, Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers and the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, who declared the race open at Ilawe Ekiti, lauded the Oyebanji administration for continuing with the Ikogosi Marathon Race, which his predecessor, former governor Kayode Fayemi, began.
In 2019, Fayemi administration organised the Ikogosi 10km marathon race, which began from Aramoko Ekiti and ended at Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort.
It was reported recently that Abegunde, while addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti in September, said that the Ikogosi Marathon is a relatively new but rapidly growing event aimed at promoting not just sports, but also tourism, health, and economic development in the region.
The race consultant had said, ‘The Ikogosi Marathon is more than a sporting event; it is a platform for tourism, health, and community development. The race will promote Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort as a global tourist attraction, boost local businesses through increased patronage, and encourage fitness and healthy living across Nigeria’.
