Former presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has stressed the need for Nigerians to pay more attention to sports and entertainment as a means of alleviating poverty.

He advised youths to take to sports as it’s one of the hidden but fastest ways to not only quickly get out of boredom but poverty.

Adebayo made this advice in his maiden Annual Prince Adewole Adebayo Christmas Marathon held in Ondo State over the weekend, a statement from his media office stated.

The event saw participation from athletes within and outside Nigeria, including some Kenyan athletes. Notable attendees included former minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, and former minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

Adebayo, the initiator of the event, discussed the motivation behind this initiative, stating that the event has come to stay and expressed his commitment to nurturing sports talents in Nigeria.

He said, “I believe it is important for Nigerians to engage in sporting activities because sports, music, and entertainment are powerful means of transforming impoverished individuals into stars within a single generation. We are currently in a period of human history that celebrates talent.”

He said promoting sporting events would help reduce poverty and highlighted the role of discipline in sports, noting that “anyone who can run a marathon is a disciplined person.”

Adebayo expressed his hopes for the marathon to be featured in Nigeria’s sporting calendar next year and to gain recognition from the International Olympic Committee.

The event now holds annually on December 30 for the next 1,000 years, reinforcing his commitment: “This will be a regular occurrence. People came from all over the world and Nigeria, spanning various communities and age groups. These are initiatives we can pursue without waiting for government assistance,” Adebayo added enthusiastically.

Although the Kenyan athletes missed the race, an athlete from the Republic of Benin secured the second position. Among the participants was a 14-year-old who had never run a marathon before. Despite being initially prevented from participating, he was allowed to compete with adults and outpaced them.

The winners received cash prizes of one million naira for first place, five hundred thousand naira for second place, and three hundred thousand naira for third place. Additionally, the organizers awarded fifty thousand naira as consolation to other participants.

The athletes were later received by the traditional ruler of Ondo kingdom, Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo Adenrele Ademefun Kiladejo, Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom. The athletes were adorned with garlands at the palace.

During the reception, Solomon Dalung described the marathon as well-attended and successful, noting its potential to promote tourism in Ondo, as participants will continue to visit the hospital kingdom. “We will support all efforts that bring glory and honor to the kingdom,” the former Sports minister stated.