The technical director and general coordinator of the 11th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, Yusuf Alli, says organisers are now putting the final touches to what is set to be the biggest staging of the event yet—Nigeria’s marquee stop on the road-running calendar and the only World Athletics Gold Label race in West Africa.
Arrivals under way ahead of Saturday’s showpiece
Alli, an Olympian, revealed that athlete movement into Okpekpe in Edo State began as far back as Monday. Runners have continued to filter into the town from across the world ahead of Saturday’s May 30 event.
Expectations for the 2026 field and key upgrades
Looking ahead, the 2026 edition is already being billed as the most competitive in the race’s history. Alli confirmed that more than 50 elite athletes are expected to take their places on the starting line, surpassing the 40-plus who competed at the previous edition.
He suggested the steady growth in entries underlines the quality and reputation of the competition.
“The numbers keep increasing at every edition. This should tell you of the pedigree of the race,” Alli said.
Security and runner welfare
Among the standout changes this year is a substantial enhancement to security arrangements. Alli pointed to the wider security environment in Nigeria and stressed that runner safety remains a priority, with race routes planned to be fully covered both before, during, and after the event.
- Security planning has been upgraded for this edition
- Route coverage is set to be in place before, during, and after the race
- Runners will be closely monitored throughout proceedings
“Our athletes will be closely monitored,” he assured.
Medical leadership and race support
On the medical side, Dr. Sam Ogbondeminu returns as Race Medical Director. Alli highlighted the doctor’s credentials, noting that he is the first Nigerian medical professional to earn World Athletics certification as a medical director.
Alli said he and his team have full confidence in Dr. Ogbondeminu and the medical unit, pointing to the race’s strong safety record since the competition began.
- Dr. Sam Ogbondeminu resumes as Race Medical Director
- He is the first Nigerian doctor certified by World Athletics in that role
- Alli believes the medical team will deliver effectively on Saturday
“Since the inception of the race, there has been no issue at all,” Alli said. “We trust Dr. Sam Ogbondeminu and his team to deliver excellently on Saturday.”
Road running in Nigeria: closing the East Africa gap
While Alli acknowledged that East African runners have dominated the event since its inception, he said narrowing that gap is still a work in progress for Nigerian long-distance running.
However, he pointed to a promising new wave of endurance talent coming out of the Mambilla Plateau area in Plateau State, describing it as the nation’s best hope of eventually ending the trend of East African supremacy.
- Nigerian runners are still working to consistently match East Africa’s level
- The Mambilla Plateau region is viewed as a key talent pipeline
- Alli expects future breakthroughs from long-distance-focused athletes
“The road race culture is improving in Nigeria,” Alli said. “Very soon, our brothers from the Mambilla part of Plateau State — who are built for long-distance races — will make the country proud.”
Commercial future and event value chain
Beyond performance, Alli is also optimistic about the commercial trajectory of road racing across Nigeria. He noted that major marathon events are already established in places such as Lagos, Abeokuta, Bayelsa, Abuja, and Jos, along with several additional cities.
In his view, the next step is to develop an economic value chain around these competitions so that the wider impact is felt more strongly.
“All we need to do is create an economic value chain around these events, and the commercial impact will be significantly felt,” he said.
What’s next: race day details
The 11th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race takes place in Okpekpe, Edo State, this Saturday, May 30.
