By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
The Foundation for Peace, Hope and Conflict Management (FPHACM), a non governmental organisation on Wednesday, organised a marathon race for peaceful coexistence in Jalingo.
The Executive Director (ED) of the foundation, Reverend Father Anthony Bature noted that the event was put in place bearing in mind that sports is an instrument for global peace.
Bature, a professor with the Federal University, Wukari, said the foundation believes that engaging the youth into sports would reduce the security challenges, especially in a multicultural state like Taraba.
“Sports has increasingly become an instrument for promotion of peace among the youth globally.
“We tried the marathon race in Wukari in 2021 in an attempt to restore peace there and it worked and that is why we brought it to the state capital this year.
“The foundation plans to work with other stakeholders to make it a bigger event next year,” he said.
The marathon race which had both male and female youth across the 16 local government councils of the state, commenced from Affolaham Square to Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo.
Bature commended Most Reverend Dr. Charles Hamawa, the Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese and others for their relentless support to the foundation’s peace moves in the state.
Speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Abdulnasir Boboji, the Chairman of Jalingo Local Government Council, lauded the efforts of the foundation at enhancing peace in the state.
Boboji pledged the commitment of the council to supporting the activities of the foundation for a better society.
It was gathered that Mr Benjamin Muya took the first position in the male category, while Mrs Salome Seati won the female category and second and third positions were awarded prices ranging from generators, televisions and refrigerators by the foundation.
