Nigeria’s Sharubutu shines at Schneider Electric Paris marathon

L – R: Dinnatu Yohanna, Schneider Electric sponsored Nigerian female athlete; Olivier Collignon, Schneider Electric Paris Marathon Global Sponsorship Manager; Philibus Sharubutu, Schneider Electric sponsored Nigerian male athlete; and Anne Ezeh, Field Marketi ng & Access to Energy Director, Schneider Electric Nigeria, at the just concluded Schneider Electric Paris Marathon 2016

Nigeria’s Philibus Sharubutu has finished in the top group at the Schneider Electric – sponsored Paris Marathon 2016, which took place on Sunday, April 3.

Lagos, April 5, 2016 (NAN) Nigeria’s Philibus Sharubutu, one of the two marathoners sponsored to the Paris Marathon, finished among the top group at the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon.
At the event, which took place on April 3, Sharubutu, was sponsored by the Lagos subsidiary of Schneider Electric, where he had clocked 2
hours 32 seconds, just 25 minutes behind the eventual winner, Cyprian Kotut of Kenya.
A statement released by the company in Lagos, noted that by virtue of the performance, Sharubutu had ranked in the top 40 of 50,000 runners that participated in the annual race.
Commenting on the performance of Sharubutu’s, Anne Ezeh, the Field Marketing & Access to Energy Director, Schneider Electric Nigeria said: “as a sponsor, Schneider Electric is excited by the performance of Sharubutu, who donned the National colours at the race.
“We are confident that he has gained valuable experience that will enhance his performance in future competitions. We are also optimistic
that this performance will encourage more Nigerians to participate in long distance races’’.
The statement adds: “the company sponsored two athletes — DinnatuYohanna and Philibus Sharubutu to the Paris Marathon as a demonstration of the company’s support for the development of indigenous talent.
“We are a global brand but local in our relationship with our community and stakeholders. This sponsorship is another demonstration of our commitment to the development of indigenous capacity across the sectors, where we operate in Nigeria”.
The statement quotes Sharubutu as expressing his gratitude to Schneider Electric for the opportunity to participate in his first international marathon race, “I thank Schneider Electric for this privilege to participate in the Paris Marathon as Nigeria’s sole male representative.
“After my selection to take part in the race, I promised Nigerians and Schneider Electric that I will not disappoint them. Finishing in the top 40 out of 50,000 marathoners, who participated in the race is enough motivation to aspire higher”.
It also quotes him as adding, “I will continue to train harder in order to contend with the best in the world in future competitions. I encourage other corporate bodies in Nigeria to emulate Schneider Electric’s gesture in order to support the growth of our local athletes’’.
Sharubutu and Yohanna were selected to participate in the Paris Marathon by following their sterling performance the recently held Lagos City Marathon.

adekunle

Vanguard newspapers