Edo Set Okpekpe 10km Road Race Showdown

Posted : 07 May 2023

The organizers of the annual Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have announced May 27 as the date for the ninth edition of the Gold Label international competition.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, said the 2023 edition would be run for two purposes. One of the purposes, he said, was for the prize money, and the second was to create awareness about cancer and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

“We are happy that the Okpekpe road race is kept alive as we are getting closer to our target to make the race an event of Diamond Label status."

The 2023 race will have a gold label as we put in our best to make the race the best in the world. "I will not be participating for a prize, but I will be running for a cause, which is to create awareness for cancer."

Apart from running for a prize, you can run for a cause. I encourage those that cannot run for the prize to run for a cause to encourage people to go for cancer screening and HIV testing for early detection.

“We have gone beyond the race as a sports event, as we have also brought in students to use sports to sharpen their knowledge and reduce social vices in society,” Shaibu said.

The Edo deputy governor, however, assured the prospective athletes of adequate security throughout the duration of the event.

“Adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure that all residents and visitors, including athletes, coming into the state for the race are safe and protected,” he added.

Also speaking, Zack Amodu, the race director, said athletes from about 10 countries were expected for the competition.

Amodu said the athletes were expected to arrive in Lagos on May 23, from where they would proceed to Auchi on May 24 to familiarize themselves with the environment before the main event on May 27.

“Last year we organized a technical officiating course for officials with a view to enhancing the pool of technical officials we already have in Nigeria."

“We are delighted to set the pace for road races in Nigeria and to become the first to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified measurer and the first to be granted label status,” he said.

The event’s chief marketing personnel, Mike Itamuagbor, said in his remarks that the race would be run on Gold Label because the race has gone international.

“The road race this year has added a few innovations as we will be partnering with Edo University, where about 200 students will work as volunteers for the event in the areas of accommodation, medical, and media,” he said.

Also, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Ali, said the Okpekpe road race has brought much honor to Nigeria. Okpekpe is in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.

"It was the first to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified measurer and the first to be granted label status,” he said.

The event’s chief marketing personnel, Mike Itamuagbor, said in his remarks that the race would be run on Gold Label because the race has gone international.

“The road race this year has added a few innovations as we will be partnering with Edo University, where about 200 students will work as volunteers for the event in the areas of accommodation, medical, and media,” he said.

Also, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Ali, said the Okpekpe road race has brought much honor to Nigeria. Okpekpe is in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.

Edo Set Okpekpe 10km Road Race Showdown

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