A聽staff of the Bursary,听Final聽Accounts聽Unit聽of the 水果派 of Nigeria (NOUN),听Mr. Isa Jibrin,听has been pencilled among the top finishers at the just concluded Abuja聽City聽International聽Half聽Marathon听肠hampionship聽sponsored by the prestigious聽Premium聽Trust聽Bank.
The 21-kilometres聽marathon race with starting point from聽the Abuja City聽Gate and finishing at聽the Old聽Parade聽Ground, Garki,听Abuja, pencilled聽Jibrin聽with a massive personal best as one聽of聽the 3rd聽10聽bronze聽medallist.
The half marathon,听held on April 20, 2024, was the maiden international half marathon sponsored by Premium聽Trust聽Bank聽and聽had about 4,000聽national and international聽participants (athletes)听肠utting across Australia, Canadian, Ghanaians.
Speaking on what inspired him, Jibrin,听in a chat with聽水果派 News聽听肠orrespondent,听said 聽鈥淚 want my name to be etched in the history of聽Premium聽Trust聽Bank聽Marathon race since it聽Is their maiden sponsorship as聽it听肠oncerns athletics. 聽I want to be in聽the聽limelight;聽in the history.聽That is my main inspiration.鈥
Asked how he was able to make it to the finalists, 聽he narrated that鈥渁fter I got the form, I was actually determined,听I聽started rehearsals on my own 5-km race to keep fit before the time or date as to be balanced etc. Though I have the endurance but being聽stable and fit was my main goal before the set date.鈥
The elated bronze medallist,听while expressing his gratitude to God, said聽鈥淚 am very happy, because initially I thought I will not make it because of my consistent knee dislocation, but I came, I saw and I conquered.聽I have registered another medal in my gallery.鈥
On the thorny road to the success, he said, 鈥淥ne of the challenges I encountered was that instead of normal water they gave us fizzy drinks;聽instead of water to pour on our heads.聽I will sincerely want the organisers to look into it and address this anomaly before the next half marathon.
鈥淢y honest advice to NOUN聽staff is that they should come on board, more people should come in to the tournament, because next year will be bigger.
鈥淭he good side of it is that group participation attracts higher monetary award.聽So I implore our staff to come out聽en聽mass, 鈥榯ogether we can,鈥鈥聽he added.
Jibrin also聽pleaded the聽with the management聽of the university聽to look at the area of sponsoring the event next year as this can double up聽the聽advocacy聽drive of聽the institution.
The prestigious Premium Trust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon brought together elite athletes from around the world to compete for recognition and excellence.
The聽bank鈥檚 sponsorship聽of the event聽underscored聽its dedication to promoting health, wellness, and the spirit of healthy competition, which is crucial for societal well-being.