Anthony Omoh
29 October 2009
Police Constable, Kefas Williams of Nigerian Police College, has won the prestigious 15 kilometre Lagos Airport Marathon race at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Constable Williams beat to second place, Stephen Jurbe of the Nigeria Army, Kaduna Kotoko Barracks, Kaduna and police constable Femi Olusanya, also of the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.
Thirteen year old Bukola Pereira won the female category beating to second place Aminat Olasora and Queensline Asedo was third.
In the aviation workers category, Olabode Ogunyinka of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO came first while Andy Emereole of the Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL came second and Musodiq Oguntoyinbo of Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB came in third.
The aviation journalists' category was won by Kola Alli of Thisday Newspaper while Segun Koiki of Westerner magazine was second and Friday Nwosu of the Sun Newspaper came third.
The minister of aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba who flagged off the Lagos Marathon at the Aviation House, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA at about 8.05am described the over 1,400 participants in both the marathon and walk event as 'everyone at this Lagos Airport Marathon 2009 is a winner.'
'We are glad to have you all turn up for this great and historic event in the annals of the aviation industry to showcase the great opportunities that abound in the airport environment. We hope to make it bigger next year and we will be glad to have everyone again,' the minister, who was represented by the managing director of the Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, Mr. Chike Ogeah stated.
The winner of the marathon, Kefas Williams from Plateau State expressed joy for winning the 15 Kilometres race which was his first marathon competition.
According to him, 'I am grateful to God for this day and I want to thank the Police authority for providing the enabling environment for me to train for this marathon.'
The organizer and publisher of Business Travel Weekly, Mr. Deba Uwadiae said 'the Lagos Airport Marathon 2009 which is part of the Nigeria Aviation Week celebration is a dream come true. We have always desired a way of letting people, especially the youths to have a better understanding of the aviation industry and this marathon is one of such avenues.
We acknowledge our challenges this time and we are therefore starting preparation for the next marathon in order to address all the areas that we need to address,' he added.
He expressed appreciation to the minister of aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, all the aviation parastatals, NAHCO, Turkish Airlines, Aero contractors, Dana Air, Nigerian Eagle Airlines, the Police, Nigeria Air Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps aviation journalists and all the participants for the success of the Lagos Airport Marathon 2009.
The 2010 Lagos Airport Marathon has been fixed for Saturday October 23.
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