200 Runners Mark Independence with Abuja Endurance Run, Urge Patriotism

No fewer than 200 runners on Thursday marked Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary with an endurance run in Abuja, urging patriotism, youth participation and increased investment in sports.
The event, organised by Trail Blazers Running Club tagged “Dust to Dawn Run’, commenced at midnight, featuring a 66-kilometre challenge and an open-distance category for participants covering between 21 kilometres and 65 kilometres.
The 10-kilometre loop route traversed Wuse 2 District, with adequate hydration and security support provided by the Ministry of Defence.
The club’s captain, Ifeanyi Okeke, said the endurance run symbolised Nigeria’s journey through challenges and its determination to achieve a better future.
“This is an endurance run. It’s not an easy run. Just the same way the nation has been enduring and looking for a better tomorrow,” he said.
Okeke said the initiative was designed to celebrate Nigeria’s independence and encourage citizens to take pride in their country, adding that similar activity also took place in Lagos.
He explained that the event was the club’s second edition, following the inaugural 65-kilometre run organised to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th anniversary in 2025.
“Truly we are the leaders of tomorrow. It might not look like it. Like I said, it’s just like a marathon race. It’s not easy. But once you are steadfast, you will definitely get to the finish line,” he said.
The captain urged young Nigerians to remain resilient despite prevailing challenges, expressing optimism that their efforts would eventually yield positive results.
“The nation is hard. But I want to encourage every youth that we should just continue to grind. We should just continue to do what we are doing. The nation will definitely answer our prayers,” he said.
Okeke said running promotes physical fitness, social interaction and healthy living, noting that the club had members above 70 years who participated in marathons and ultramarathons.
He appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to rehabilitate sports facilities across the country, especially the Moshood Abiola national stadium in Abuja.
“The training track is so bad, and people can’t even train properly at the stadium. This is what I’m pleading for,” he said.
Also speaking, Seyifunmi Adebote, a communications professional and long-distance runner, described the turnout as evidence of the growing running community in Nigeria.
“I’ve done 11 marathons this year alone, and it’s very impressive to be in this kind of community, to run for different reasons, for different causes,” he said.
Adebote said the participation of more than 200 runners in Abuja, in spite of the early morning rain and midnight timing, demonstrated the power of collective action.
He said about 400 runners also participated in a similar 66-kilometre challenge in Lagos, describing the initiative as a reminder that Nigerians could unite to overcome national challenges.
“If this is hard and we choose to come together to do it, we can also come together as a people to make Nigeria great,” he said.
Adebote urged the government to support the running community through partnerships and investment, adding that running benefited physical and mental wellbeing.
Another participant, Rebecca Danjuma, the first female runner to complete the race, said the event was her personal way of expressing patriotism and celebrating Nigeria.
“I’m a patriotic citizen actually. I love to celebrate Nigeria and in my own little way, for things I love to do, running is fun to me,” she said.