Nigerian Embassy In Burundi Hosts First Edition Of RunBuja2021

The potential of the young population can only be exploited if the continent creates a conducive environment for the youths to take action. Propelled by this drive, the Nigerian Embassy in Bujumbura initiated it’s first Edition of a 12km Marathon tagged #RunBuja2021. 

 The programme, which has the Ambassador Trophy as the coveted prize, is a bilateral diplomatic programme of the Nigerian Mission in Burundi geared towards using the instrumentality and resourcefulness of sport in ensuring a more prosperous and secure society. It was organized to deepen economic and social ties, promote healthy best practices and raise an awareness for a healthy youthful life style and was declared open by the Mayor of Bujumbura, CP Jimmy Hatungimana. 

In his opening remark, the Mayor appreciated the Nigeria Mission in Burundi especially its ever dynamic Head who he described as ‘A youthful diplomat’. According to him, “you have taken diplomacy to the next level.”

  ‘We never knew this window could exist in our  diplomatic interaction with your country Nigeria. Our people appreciate all you have been doing here to ensure that we have a better society. God will bless you! The President, Evariste  Ndayisimiye extends his deepest appreciation to the good people of Nigeria and to your President, assuring him of his maximum cooperation in exploring further diplomatic understanding between us and Nigeria.”

 In his opening speech, the Nigerian envoy to Burundi celebrated the Nigeria Mission for organizing the 12KM marathon tagged #RunBuja2021 which uses sports and recreation to foster a more cordial social interaction and lifestyle among youths.

 According to the Nigerian Head of Mission in Burundi, this programme will reinforce the partnership between Nigeria and Burundi in ensuring a safer society using sports as a tool.

 “Seeing the teeming youths who participated in this year’s edition, their zeal, determination to succeed and most of all, their faith, I am even more convinced to expand this iniative. At the start up line, I was particularly moved by the number of these teeming youths who stood right there  bare foot ready to compete in the 12km marathon. What a demonstration of the African spirit of never giving up!”

 The Nigerian Embassy will now make RunBuja both an international event and an annual event’. 

The Nigerian envoy to Burundi felicitated with the winners of both the Men and Women’s categories urging them to explore and develop themselves more. The winner in the Men’s category finished up in 34:49  for the 12 kilometers marathon, a feat he described as impressive. He was rewarded with a cash sum of 1,000,000 Bif while the first Runner Up received 750,000 Bif and the second runner up 500,000 Bif. There were other consolation prizes up to the tenth place runners. The prizes were the same for both the male and the female categories. 

Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba PhD appreciated the DigiTours Team who came all the way from Nigeria to grace the event, the #RunBuja2021 sponsors – KCB Bank, Brarudi, Melbet, Bancobu, Cabinet, the Athletic Federation of Burundi, Red Cross, Burundi Police, the Ministry of Youth and the Office of the Mayor of Burundi who partnered with them to ensure the event went on in a historic manner assuring them of more exploits in the future editions. 

Dignitaries present included Her Excellency Dr Jilly Maleko (Tanzanian Ambassador), CP Jimmy Hatungimana (The Mayor of Bujumbura),  Amb Dieudonne Kwizera (President Athletic Federation of Burundi),  DigiTours from Nigeria and a host of members of the Diplomatic community here in Bujumbura.