The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race—set to be the first road event in West Africa to receive World Athletics Label status—will be shown live across the world on May 30, organisers have confirmed.
First staged in 2013, the competition has steadily risen to become one of Africa’s standout road meets, drawing top-class runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria.
Runners will start on Apana Road and finish in Okpekpe, located in Edo State, with the 10-kilometre route taking in rolling hills and sections of paved roadway—an arrangement designed to test both physical endurance and race-day judgement.
Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo owns the men’s course record of 28:28, while Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui of Kazakhstan recorded 32:38 to set the women’s benchmark in 2023. Those marks continue to stand as reference times for the field.
“The 2026 edition is expected to feature a strong group of Gold Label-calibre road racers, alongside Nigeria’s leading distance runners. Prize money and international exposure will help ensure a highly competitive lineup,” organisers said, quoting part of the event’s outlook.
Okpekpe has been a mainstay on the global athletics schedule since 2015 and, organisers added, continues to highlight Nigeria’s ability to deliver events of world-class standard. Dare Esan, Media and Activation Director, made the point that the race remains a showcase for the host country.
This year’s event is set to reach an even broader audience through a World Athletics initiative that compiles live coverage and highlight packages for Label Road Races.
With the race featured on World Athletics’ official platforms—backed by a combined audience of 4.5 million subscribers—Okpekpe is set for its most significant international visibility to date.
The live stream will allow supporters from around the world to follow the action in real time, while professionally produced highlights will be used to spotlight the most exciting moments of the race.
For competitors, commercial partners and Nigeria’s wider sporting image, the expanded coverage is expected to strengthen Okpekpe’s reputation as a Gold Label event and reinforce its position on the international calendar.
To enhance the viewing experience, the broadcast will include commentary from an athletics journalist with extensive experience in the sport and a former participant in the World Athletics Media Study Group, bringing both analytical depth and storytelling to the coverage.
Outside of athletics, the race has also been linked with increased tourism and investment in Edo State, with visitors and potential investors drawn to the area’s hilltop scenery and agricultural promise.
Now set for wide global live streaming, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race will aim to deliver elite competition while further demonstrating Nigeria’s capability to host events that resonate well beyond its borders.
