By Tony Adibe
Winners in the Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu, Marathon 2025 have smiled home with jaw-dropping, mouth-watering prizes in both the male and female categories.
However, the Vice Chancellor of GOUNI, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke has said that beginning from 2026, the university would “consider conducting drug tests” for participants in future marathons to ensure the credibility of each athlete’s performance.
NewsBits reports that the 21.79 km distance marathon, tagged “Marathon For Active & Exciting Life Finish,” was part of the chain of activities to mark the one-week 13th Convocation ceremony of the university.
The marathon began from the university’s faculty of law at the popular Thinkers’ Corner within Enugu metropolis and terminated at the permanent site, Ugwuomu-Nike in Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area. The marathon was meant for both the GOUNI students and residents of Enugu State.
Anieke, who addressed a pre-convocation press conference at the University’s permanent site, announced that 20-year-old Onyia Kingsley, who won the first position in the male category, would go home with the sum of N500,000. Onyia is said to be a 400-level student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Anieke said that the winner of the second position, Odo Emmanuel Chinecherem,23, an artisan/plumber, got N200,000, while the third prize was won by Onyia Chukwuebuka, who received N100,000.
In the female category, 25-year-old Elias Jacinta, who hails from Kogi State but resident of Enugu, emerged winner of the first prize, smiling home with N500,000, while Eze Miracle won the second position and got N200,000. The third prize of N100,000 was won by Eze Happiness, who, unfortunately, developed severe pain on her legs, causing her to limp after the marathon. However, the challenge was handled by the medical team monitoring the participants.
Anieke said that the marathon was one of the ways of celebrating the graduating students of the institution. “This is the only university that does this in the whole country. There’s no better way of honouring the graduating students,” Anieke told the gathering.
Anieke, who also spoke specifically on the drug test for athletes that would take part in the future marathons, said: “We want to begin the test next year. We haven’t done it before, but we are going to begin it next year. So, next year, the drug test is something we can consider.”
Also, the Enugu State Commissioner for youth and sports, Barr. Ike Ekweremadu Jnr. said that the ministry would collaborate with the university in order to give the runners the kind of exposure that would take them to national light.
“Our long-distance training coach will also work with you (athletes) and see how we expose you to one of these competitions at the national level,” said Ekweremadu, who also congratulated the winners for the display of their physical and mental strength during the competition. “I’m sure you pushed along, despite all odds, till the end, and it shows the character you are made of,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Engr. Beloved-Dan Obi Anike said that the local council would be supporting the first ten (10) runners with N1000,000, both male and female.
The Chairman lauded the university for “making this mark and becoming a trailblazer in education and sports.” He said: “We will be rejoicing with you and be tracking the Hon. Commissioner in order to make you become national champions.”
On the 13th Convocation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor said that the event would commence with a thanksgiving mass “because we know that without God, we can do nothing.”
He outlined some of the activities to mark the one-week convocation ceremony to include various competitions on creativity, entrepreneurship, inaugural lecture, having more eminent people added to “Our Hall of Fame”; convocation dinner, award of degrees and certificates, among others.
Anieke said that one of the unique features of the 13th convocation ceremony “is that Azubuike Ikennam, who emerged the ‘Vice Chancellor For One-Day’, also became the ‘Best Graduating Student in 2025’. This is the first time we are having such a development.”
He said that the GOUNI has, since inception, graduated 4,431 graduates. “The Godfrey Okoye University has pushed 4,431 graduates into the world since the beginning of the university,” the vice Chancellor said.
He equally highlighted some of the achievements of the university which, he said, included but not limited to the successful open heart surgery performed at the University’s 200-Bed Teaching Hospital at Trans-Ekulu; the College of Medicine; the DNA Centre “which is the first in the whole of Africa, and number five in the whole world”; the Robotics Centre; the Directorate of Competitions; the Directorate of Entrepreneurship; winning and accessing grants running in millions for not just our students, but also for our scholars, among others. “You can only win grants when you are doing a good job as a scholar,” Anieke said.
