Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, on Saturday led from the front as the southeastern state hosted the maiden edition of the Enugu City International Marathon, marking a bold new chapter in its ambition to become a leading destination for sports tourism in Nigeria and beyond.
The governor completed the 10-kilometre road race in a time of 45 minutes, joining thousands of participants and elite athletes from across Africa in a landmark event that blended sport with statecraft, pageantry, and economic ambition.
The full marathon event — a 42-kilometre race — was dominated by East African athletes, in a demonstration of the region’s long-standing prowess in long-distance running. Kenya’s Ken Kopos emerged victorious in the men’s elite category, finishing in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 32 seconds, and earning the event’s top prize of $15,000. He was closely followed by compatriots Steve Baswey and Bernard Sang, who completed the race in second and third positions respectively, with winnings of $10,000 and $5,000.
In the women’s elite category, Kenya continued its dominance, with Shaoline Chepriroi finishing first in 2:44:37. Ethiopia’s Tilahu Birul came in second at 2:45:10, while another Kenyan, Rita Busiengy, secured third place with a time of 2:47:17. The second and third-place winners also took home $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
Nigeria’s top finishers gave a strong showing despite the East African sweep. In the women’s category, Blessing Shambo placed fourth overall with a time of 2:48:04, earning the honour of top Nigerian female marathoner and a ₦1 million cash prize. Charity Agofure and Elizabeth Pam followed with times of 2:55:03 and 3:01:45, taking home ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively.
In the men’s elite Nigerian category, Davou Gyang emerged as the best homegrown performer with a time of 2:29:03, narrowly edging out Boyi Nyango. Iliya Pam secured third place. They were rewarded with cash prizes of ₦1 million, ₦750,000, and ₦500,000 respectively.
The 10km race category, which Governor Mbah participated in, also saw competitive performances. In the women’s division, Lydia Akusho took first place, followed by Esther Afigbo and Mwantiti Davou. For the men, Francis James, Iliya Raymond, and Boyi Gang clinched the top three positions.
The marathon was organised with support from both national and international athletics authorities. World Athletics oversaw the event through its representative, Nadeem Khan, President of the International Ultra Runners. He was joined by key Nigerian officials including Chief Tony Okowa, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and Chief Solomon Ogba, Vice President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Governor Mbah described the marathon as “a spectacular event” and praised its successful execution. He noted that the event marked a significant step in his administration’s broader strategy to make Enugu a magnet for global tourism and investment through sports.
“This is not just a race; it is a statement,” Mbah said. “Sports is serious business for us in Enugu. It is a platform to create opportunities, attract visitors, and drive economic growth. With this marathon, we are projecting Enugu onto the international stage.”
He reiterated his administration’s target of attracting three million annual visitors by investing in tourism infrastructure and leveraging high-profile events like the marathon to boost visibility and investor interest.
Governor Mbah extended his appreciation to the Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports, led by Commissioner Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, and the event’s consulting partner, Nilayo Sports Management, headed by Yetunde Olopade. He also commended the efforts of security personnel, logistics teams, and volunteers.
The event drew a wide array of dignitaries, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uchenna Ugwu; lawmakers and other top government functionaries.
With its successful debut, the Enugu City International Marathon is already being heralded as a potential fixture on the global athletics calendar — a vision Governor Mbah is determined to realise.
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