Aduragbemi Omiyale
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
**As Kenyans Sweep Medals at 2021 Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon
Rite Foods Limited has been applauded by the Ogun State Government for supporting the development of sports in the state.
Last Saturday, the company, which produces Bigi drinks, Naija’s favourite carbonated soft drinks, thrown its full weight behind the 2021 Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon.
At the event, the firm provided premium refreshment and hydration for athletes and indigenes and this gesture was noticed by the state government.
The Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Kehinde Oluwadare, said the event was in line with the vision of his administration.
Speaking on the marathon, the Brand Manager, Beverage and Bakery, Rite Foods Limited, Ms Boluwatife Adedugbe, extended the company’s profound goodwill message to the people of Ijebu and also reiterated the company’s commitment to the needs of Ijebu people and its consumers in general.
She stated that Rite Foods’ strategy will remain aligned to meeting its consumers at touchpoints that resonate with its premium brands as well as brand equity journey.
“For Rite Foods, we will always have our consumers at the depth of our hearts and we will continue to empower and support as many platforms that promote healthy competition, talents and positive energy as the Ijebu Heritage Half Marathon 2021,” she added.
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who was ably represented by Tunde Odulaja welcomed all to the great occasion while also stating that Kabiyesi sees the marathon as a talent hunt for future Ijebu athletes who will be discovered in the process and launched into international limelight through the Ijebu marathon platform.
Mr Odulaja commended Rite Foods for the exciting refreshment it is bringing to energize all athletes, adding that the marathon will increase economic activities in Ijebuland.
At the marathon, Rite Foods provided 14 Bigi water points, to fantastically refresh and revitalize all athletes, home-based and foreign, in addition to making its array of over 15 Naija’s favourite brands readily available to energize and meet the needs of all involved in the race.
Top class runners participated in the event which was monitored professionally, as spy cameras were deployed coupled with transporter chips to track all athletes during the marathon.
It was also a clean sweep for Kenyan athletes as they claimed both the men and women categories with Hosea Kiplimo finishing the men’s race in 1:02:36 while his counterpart, Rhonzas Kilimo finished second in 1:02:57. The third position went to another Kenyan, Timothy Ronoh, who raced to the finish line in 1:02:59.
The women’s race was also won by another Kenyan, Sandra Chebet in a time of 1:10:42, with two Ethiopians, Gebaynesh Ayele and Beyenu Degefa taking the second and third position in a time of 1:10:52 and 1:11:02 respectively.
Local indigenes like Abigail Ogunbowale, an 11-year-old who finished the half marathon was rewarded with N250,000 by Rite Foods Limited, while Femi Olusanya, a police officer in Ijebu-Ode, who was the first to finish the race, will get N500,000.
