5,000 athletes take NBC Bank Ruangwa Marathon by storm
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa (sitting in the middle) posing for a group photo with various stakeholders, including senior government officials, renowned artists, and the sponsors of the Ruangwa Marathon 2024, which took place over the weekend at the Madini Stadium in Ruangwa District. NBC Bank was one of the key sponsors of the event. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The event, sponsored by the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), was graced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and featured various dignitaries in three race categories
Lindi. More than 5,000 athletes participated in the second edition of the Ruangwa Marathon held at the Madini Ground in Lindi.
The event, sponsored by the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), was graced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and featured various dignitaries in three race categories.
Among the participants were Deputy Minister of Health, Godwin Mollel, Deputy Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamisi Mwinjuma (also known as Mwana FA), NBC Mtwara Branch Manager Editha Mwakatobe, Lindi Branch Manager Iovin Mapunda, and renowned musician Diamond Platnumz.
The event aimed to encourage Tanzanian sportsmen and women to train and improve their health through exercise. Prime Minister Majaliwa noted that athletes competed in five kilometres, 10-kilometres, and 21-kilometres races, respectively.
“We have directed that each region in the country reserve an area for mass exercises to promote healthy bodies. This is part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s strategic plan to improve the health of all Tanzanians,” said Majaliwa.
Various winners were awarded with prizes from the organisers of the event.
For her part, NBC Bank Coastal Zone Manager Zubeider Haroun stated that the bank aims to continue being a significant player in the sports sector while leveraging its financial services to support stakeholders in this vital industry.
Haroun, representing the bank's Managing Director, Theobald Sabi, expressed pride in supporting the Ruangwa Marathon.
“We have come on board as one of the main sponsors of the event, and we also joined the participants, including Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and other government leaders,” said Haroun.
She added, “We have been actively aligning our efforts with the various agendas associated with these sports events, which has been a driving force behind our participation, sponsorship, and even the organization of events like these.”
Haroun also explained that NBC’s annual Dodoma Marathon, which raises funds to fight cervical cancer and provides educational funding for midwives to improve maternal and child health.
Through its sponsorship of the NBC Premier League, Youth League, and Championship League, NBC Bank continues to innovate by offering financial services tailored to football stakeholders, such as bus loans for clubs and health insurance for players and technical staff.
“The bank’s objective is part of its broader strategy to align with the government's and other stakeholders' efforts in nurturing talent, promoting community health, and creating employment opportunities, particularly for the youth, while also supporting the achievement of various social agendas through the impetus of sports,” she said.
