Participants at the start of the walk
By Sunny A. David, Onitsha
The 9th edition of the monthly “Walk for Life”, physical fitness exercise held for the second time in Onitsha attracted more participants including the Anambra Sports Ambassador and Olympic medalist Mary Onyali Omagbemi and other dignitaries.
The monthly walk, organized by Anambra State Government, which holds every first Saturday of the month, entered it’s ninth edition with guest appearance of sports personalities including Olympic and Commonwealth games medalist Mary Onyali Omagbemi and Super Falcons Assistant Coach Maureen Madu.
Speaking at the end of walk, which started at the Zik’s Round About and terminated at Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Mr. Tony Oli, expressed satisfaction that the exercise is attracting more participants and disclosed that plans are on to take it to other parts of the state, including Nnewi and Aguata so that more Ndi Anambra can join.
In their separate reactions, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Sir. Willie Nwokoye, the Commissioner for Works Mr. Marcel Ifejiofor and his Agriculture counterpart, Mr. Nnamdi Onukwuba as well as the Senior Special Assistant to Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano on Media, Mr. Emeka Ozumba affirmed that that it has been refreshing to keep fit through the walk for life exercise, urging more ndi Anambra to keep fit and healthy by participating.
In an interview, Mary Onyali Omabgemi and Maureen Madu, an ex Super Falcon’s player and the current Assistant Coach for the country’s women’s team, noted that the ninth edition of the walk was a home coming for them and extolled the state government through the Sports Development Commission for thinking it wise to keep Ndi Anambra fit and healthy. .
This edition of walk for life, apart from witnessing large turnout of Onitsha residents, also witnessed more children participation, as Ogene music, which has become an integral part of the walk, added leisure to the walk as participants were also treated to fruit breakfast and aerobic exercise at the end of the walk.