AUN Community in Run for Peace to Raise Funds for Feed and Read Program
May 8 was a bustling Sunday at the main campus as the University community came together to run and walk for peace.
The AUN Run for Peace was held to raise funds for the Feed and Read program that provides displaced, orphaned, and Almajiri girls and boys a daily meal and teaches them basic literacy and numeracy.
The peace-promoting event was in two segments: a 1km run or walk for children, and a 5km run or walk for faculty and staff members and students.
The Coordinator of the event, Ms. Katherine Ensign, announced that over 700 members of the University community registered to participate.
Ms. Ensign said that the maiden edition of the charity run in 2012 had 88 participants. This time she was expecting just a little over 100 participants but was amazed to discover that over 500 had registered on the eve of the event and nearly 200 more on the D-day.
AUN student and President of the AUN Basketball Association, Gwaha Madwatte, was also pleasantly surprised at the number of participants and said he is happy he joined the race.
“The run for peace was a good experience for me,” said Associate Registrar Yakubu Ayuba. Apart from the health benefit, he said that it was a good avenue to socialize with colleagues not seen for a long time. “We should do more of it.”
A Graphic Artist with the AUN Printing Press, Caleb Matthias, also said that he was participating because it is a way to socialize with others and to support a noble cause. “…at least someone will have a meal through this…I’m seeing new faces and those who I’ve not seen for a while.”
Sadiq Usman Mahmood, a staff member of the Residence Life Unit of Student Affairs, said that it was fun. “I like jogging and usually do so with the staff of the Security & Safety department.” He is a weight watcher.
Security staff and runner who emerged winner, Daniel Godwin, said that it is a dream-come-true for him. A state athlete, Godwin praised the University for organizing the charity run as it engages youths in sporting. He said that participating in events such as this is what attracted him to work with the University in the first instance, having heard of the first peace run in 2012. The winner in the female category, Alice Raymond, another Security & Safety staff, said that uniting people from the community is one way to bring peace.
By Omorogbe Omorogiuwa
