Delta: WALKATHON EXPERTS WALK 12 HOURS, 60+KM FROM AGBOR TO THE FINISH LINE IN ASABA - By Patrick Ochei

Saturday, 5th April, 2025, will in a long time remain indelible in the memoirs of Deltans, Nigerians and Africans, being a day that 41 participants of the Hope Unites 2025 - Walkathon and Event, including the accompanying Police, FRSC, Red Cross and Medical Teams, broke the record by taking part in and completing a 60+km walk from Agbor to Asaba for an awareness of child separation issues in society, and it is also demonstrative of the toil and stress the average Nigerian family has to go through just to make ends meet.

The walk which was organized by Fostering Hopes Foundation, commenced exactly 5:00am in the morning and terminated few minutes past 5:00pm in the evening at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

However, there was a stop-over at Issele-Uku Kingdom, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area, where the highly cerebral Traditional Ruler, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka JP (MNSE) in company of the Desert Warrior and founder of Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE Africa), Chief Dr. Newton Jibunoh welcomed the participants and cheer them up with some words of encouragement.

In all, the participants walked 12 hours, few minutes to the finish line at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, which was designed by Amstel Malta, one of the official sponsors of the Walkathon Project.

The Event at the stadium was chaired by the Desert Warrior alongside the king of Issele-Uku Kingdom as the Royal Father of the Day. Meanwhile, they both received an award of Sustainer of Hope from Fostering Hopes Foundation, in recognition of their humanitarian services and community development drives.

Other dignitaries also received the award, including coaches and participants who got medals and certificates of participation in the Walkathon Project.

In her address, the founder and coordinator of Fostering Hopes Foundation, Nkechi Ukome said she was deliberate about what she wanted to achieve with the Hope Unites 2025 - Walkathon and Event, which she vehemently confirmed had been successfully achieved.

She said she became apprehensive at a point, but was nudged on by the resilience of the team she had, including the support and encouragement of achievers like the Desert Warrior, Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom and others. She profoundly thanked the FADE Africa, NBL (Amstel Malta), Delta State Government (Ministries of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development; and Humanitarian and Community Support Services) and others for their partnership in ensuring the adequate success of the Walkathon Project.

In a nutshell, she averred that her passion and drive is to see a working society where families will thrive and children protected without having to impugn on their rights by sending them out to distant relatives to live with in the hopes of better future, but however, they most often than not, face abuse and exploitation.

According to her records, her Foundation had already supported six families with business grants and 19 children placed on scholarship from nursery to the end of their secondary education, thereby hoping to continue to add more beneficiaries to the list based on the availability of funds.