By Jeremiah Ola
This weekend, the Berom people of Plateau State will witness a powerful combination of sports, youth empowerment, and health awareness, as the Berom Sports Development Association (BESDA) rolls out two major events: the WUROM Marathon and the NGO Hannatu Chollom Football Tournament.
After the resounding success of the Berom Nations League, BESDA President Geoffrey Bottson says the association is pushing forward to build on the momentum.
“We are a sports development association. Having done the Berom Nations League successfully, we have come straight to the next program , the WUROM Marathon,” Bottson explained.
The WUROM Marathon, a 15-kilometre race, takes place on Friday, June 27, 2025, from Zawan Junction to Secretariat Junction. It will feature runners from all 14 districts of Berom land, with proper security and route monitoring to ensure safety for all participants.
What makes this race stand out is its clear mission not just to crown champions, but to discover raw talent and invest in the future of young athletes. Bottson highlighted that marathon running is a natural strength among the Berom people and deserves attention alongside more popular sports like football.
“To be honest, not all of us are privileged to play football,” he said. “But we’ve discovered that long distance running and volleyball are strong areas for us. So we want to harness what we’re naturally good at and use it to develop our people.”
To attract the best runners, the marathon comes with attractive cash prizes:
₦300,000 for first place,
₦200,000 for second place,
₦100,000 for third place,
and ₦15,000 each for the next 10 runners (from 4th to 13th place).
Every participant will also receive a certificate of participation.
The sports weekend continues with the NGO Hannatu Chollom Football Tournament for girls, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, June 28–29, at Jos City Park. While it’s a football competition, it carries a deeper message: empowering the girl child through sports and creating awareness about cervical cancer.
“We are using this opportunity to talk to the girls about cervical cancer,” Bottson emphasized. “It’s limited at this stage to Berom girls, and it’s about motivating them to participate in sports and to take care of their health.”
Beyond this weekend, BESDA has a clear vision for the future.
“We want to see the best of the best,” Bottson said. “Some of these athletes will be referred to state coaches. We will also support them to participate in races and competitions outside the state. We’re planning to extend the WUROM Marathon to other tribes across the country. Eventually, we hope to host a full Jos Marathon, with better incentives and national reach.”
As the weekend approaches, BESDA is calling on individuals, businesses, and government institutions to support these initiatives whether through funding, equipment, or awareness. Because from Berom to the nation, this is more than just sport ,it’s a movement.
