The MASA Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to using the Isonyin Marathon as a vehicle for youth empowerment, healthy living, community development and the promotion of the cultural heritage of Isonyin, as the third edition of the 21-kilometre race was held in the ancient town of Isonyin, Ogun State, on Saturday.

The President of the MASA Foundation and Convener of the Isonyin Marathon, Dr. Muideen Adegboega Salami, Ph.D., FNIMN, stated this in his welcome address at the 2026 edition of the marathon, themed “Run for Elevation.”

Salami said the marathon had grown beyond a conventional sporting competition, describing it as the product of a vision to use sport as a catalyst for positive transformation among young people and the wider community.

According to him, the initiative was conceived from “a simple yet powerful vision” of using sport to promote youth empowerment, healthy living, community development and the preservation and promotion of Isonyin’s rich cultural heritage.

He said the 2026 edition represented another significant milestone in that vision, noting that the event had continued to attract athletes and visitors from different parts of Nigeria while also generating increasing interest from other African countries.

The marathon attracted elite and local athletes from Ogun, Delta, Plateau and other states, who competed for positions across the Elite Male, Elite Female, Local Male and Local Female categories.

The 2026 edition also featured an enhanced cash prize structure of ₦14.6 million, making it one of the significant grassroots athletics competitions in the state.

Salami said the growth of the marathon demonstrated that the foundation’s original vision was gradually becoming a reality, with Isonyin increasingly attracting attention as a destination for sports, tourism and community development.

He said the foundation was particularly interested in ensuring that the marathon created a platform where young people could discover their talents, develop discipline and embrace healthy lifestyles.

The significance of that objective became evident during the race when a 10-year-old girl finished third in the Local Female category, attracting widespread admiration from spectators and participants.

The young athlete competed against considerably older runners and displayed remarkable courage, stamina and determination throughout the demanding 21-kilometre course.

Her father, who also serves as her manager and coach, said her performance was the result of consistent training and family support. He disclosed that athletics had become a family affair, with her two other sisters also participating actively in the sport.

Her performance provided one of the most inspiring moments of the marathon and underscored the potential of the competition to serve as a platform for discovering and nurturing young athletic talents.

Salami said the foundation’s vision was not limited to the staging of an annual race but extended to creating lasting opportunities for young people and contributing to the development of the host community.

She said the foundation was grateful to traditional rulers, government officials, athletes, sponsors, partners, volunteers, members of the media and residents whose contributions had helped the marathon grow.

The foundation disclosed that the marathon remained largely self-funded, although it had continued to receive increasing support from individuals and organisations that believed in its objectives.

The expanded 2026 prize structure covered both Elite and Amateur categories and brought the total cash prize to ₦14.6 million.

Beyond the prize money, the organisers introduced a development component designed to ensure that the marathon also contributes directly to the host community.

According to the convener’s address, 10 per cent of the winners’ prize money, amounting to ₦1.46 million, would be deducted for community development.

Of this amount, ₦500,000 would be directed towards an ongoing project in Isonyin, while the remaining ₦960,000 would support the proposed MASA Isonyin Sports Centre.

Salami said the proposed sports centre was part of the foundation’s broader plan to create sustainable sporting opportunities for young people in the community.

She explained that the foundation was also seeking stronger partnerships with government institutions and the corporate sector to expand the initiative and position the marathon among leading community-based sporting events in Africa.

The convener further linked the marathon to the preservation of Isonyin’s historical identity, saying the foundation had complemented the sporting event with a historical documentary and commemorative publication.

According to her, the materials document aspects of Isonyin’s history, traditions, educational legacy and the achievements of its sons and daughters, thereby ensuring that the community’s story is preserved and presented to a wider audience.

She said the marathon was therefore serving two complementary purposes: promoting sporting excellence while also showcasing the history, identity and enduring spirit of Isonyin.

The royal father of Isonyin, Saderiren of Isonyin Ilufemiloye, Alaiyeluwa Oba Abdul Rasheed Omotayo Cossy Salami, also emphasised the broader significance of the competition.

The monarch said the marathon was not simply about prize money but represented the growing potential of grassroots athletics and the ability of sporting activities to inspire young people.

He urged youths to embrace sports, discipline and healthy living while avoiding drug abuse and other illicit activities capable of destroying their future.

Oba Salami commended the organisers, sponsors, athletes and residents for contributing to the success of the event.

The Chairman of Ogun North-East Local Government Area and co-host of the marathon, Hon. Foluso Badejo, described the event as a divine instrument for community and human development.

Badejo expressed satisfaction that the marathon was held during his tenure and commended the organisers for attracting participants from Delta, Plateau, Ogun and other parts of the country.

He also assured athletes and visitors of a safe and lively environment throughout the event.

The Chairman of the Day, MIM 2026, Dr. AMB Williams Banjo, Chief Executive Officer of BANSEK Production Limited and a major sponsor of the marathon, commended the peaceful atmosphere in Isonyin.

Banjo, who spoke from his experience of operating industries in the area, described Isonyin as a conducive environment for business and development.

He said his experience in the community had been satisfactory and encouraging, adding that the peaceful environment was an important asset for attracting further investment and development.

On the competitive side of the marathon, the defending men’s champion, Francis James, successfully retained his title.

James improved on his previous record of one hour and 10 minutes, finishing the 2026 race in just over one hour to emerge as the men’s gold medallist.

In the women’s category, Miss Vivian Obidia of Plateau State emerged as the gold medallist.

The race attracted representatives of Nigerian marathon and athletics bodies, sports enthusiasts, community leaders and residents, further highlighting the growing profile of the Isonyin Marathon.

The participation of runners from different states also provided an opportunity for local athletes to compete alongside more experienced runners and gain valuable exposure.

In her closing remarks, the Project Director, Yeye Ademola Salami, said the marathon had moved beyond being merely a race.

She described it as an avenue for demonstrating the togetherness of the people of Isonyin, opening the community to the wider world and encouraging young people to participate actively in athletics.

According to her, the growing openness, inclusiveness and organisation of the event had created a platform capable of discovering talents while strengthening the bond between the community and visitors.

The 2026 edition consequently produced not only winners and prize-money recipients but also a wider story of youthful determination, community unity, hospitality, cultural pride and grassroots development.

With its ₦14.6 million prize structure, growing participation, development initiatives and emphasis on youth empowerment, the Isonyin Marathon is increasingly positioning itself as more than an annual race—it is becoming a development platform through which Isonyin presents its people, culture, sporting talent and hospitality to Nigeria and the wider world.