Participants of the Lagos Women Run 2024 held on Saturday with much fun and excitement have hailed the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Emem Usoro, for blowing everyone away with her role on event day.
Ms Usoro flagged off the race at the Tafawa Balewa Square but more importantly started the race with the runners and finished with them at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena Onikan.
She encouraged over a thousand women at the start line to run their race with pride and laughter on their faces.
Runners and dignitaries including the director general of Lagos State Sports, Lekan Fatodu and African Table Tennis President, Barrister Enitan Oshodi, were in shock at the finish point in Onikan as the CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, raced to the finish point in the 10km race.
Ms Usoro commended all the participants for making efforts to embrace fitness as she was given a certificate of participation like all other runners.
Oyo State-based Gbogbo Akinrodoye told our correspondent that she was elated about the role placed by the CBN deputy governor.
“She finished her race and that is amazing. It is good to keep fit and we were all happy to see many dignitaries including men giving support to women’s events. It is a positive feeling,” she said.
Olayiwola Adeoba who was at the finish point to witness the race said he was also surprised about the overall turnout of the event.
“To see a top government official at that level complete a 10km race is strange but commendable. Fitness is very good for everyone and when you see women do this, it’s a plus,” Adeoba said.
Liliane Ugueta, the Cameroonian who emerged second was full of praise for the Lagos State government.
“The race was not just about the final day, I was told about many other things like training and EXPO which ran for four days and even on the final day, we witnessed a carnival of sorts. I will be here again next year,” she said.
Joy Abiye David won the race with a time of 38:35:21Cameroon’s Nguesta who finished with a time of 40:02:54. Charity Ogofure was third with her 40:09:23 effort.
