Okpekpe Race honours Nigerian champions with ₦12 million prize fund
Nigerian athletes who excelled at the 11th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have received their prize money, with organisers confirming that all payments were completed after the mandatory international anti-doping procedures.
The cash rewards, sponsored by Oceanwaves Security Limited through its Chief Executive Officer, Peter Dunia, amounted to ₦3 million for each men's and women's champion, ₦2 million for the runners-up, and ₦1 million for the third-place finishers.
Dunia had presented ceremonial cheques to the winners shortly after the race in May, while the actual payments were processed once the anti-doping clearance required for World Athletics-sanctioned events was finalised.
According to the organisers, the announcement was made to publicly acknowledge the achievements of Nigerian runners and reinforce the race's commitment to rewarding homegrown talent. They also noted that local athletes enjoy additional support during the event, including accommodation and special recognition throughout the competition.
Race Director Zack Amodu said the performances of Nigerian runners continue to improve, pointing to the latest edition where four athletes broke the 31-minute barrier. Raymond Iliya Gyang recorded the fastest time among the Nigerians with 30 minutes and 28 seconds, narrowly missing the 30-minute mark by just 28 seconds.
"We have noticed the significant improvement in the performances of Nigerian elite athletes and will continue to provide the right environment and incentives to motivate them," Amodu said.
He praised Peter Dunia for backing the initiative, describing the sponsorship as an important investment in the future of Nigerian road running.
"Beyond providing security services, Peter Dunia and Oceanwaves are helping to secure the careers of Nigerian athletes by rewarding excellence," he added.
Amodu further appealed to more corporate organisations and philanthropists to support athletics, stressing that sustained investment would produce more world-class runners, create employment opportunities and encourage greater youth participation in sports.
The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race remains a trailblazer in African road running. It became the first road race in West Africa to earn a World Athletics Label and the first in the region to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified course measurer. The event has also maintained international standards through strict compliance with anti-doping regulations and other World Athletics requirements.
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