Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have finished paying the prize money owed to Nigerian athletes for the 11th edition, following the completion of international anti-doping procedures.
The release of the funds represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s road-running scene, where athletes have often raised concerns about long waits for race earnings. The payouts were sponsored by Peter Dunia, a security professional and chief executive of Oceanwaves, and were aimed at the leading domestic finishers at the World Athletics-labelled event staged in May.
As part of the sponsorship arrangement, the top three home finishers in each category were awarded three million naira, two million naira, and one million naira respectively. Dunia initially handed out symbolic dummy cheques to the athletes right after the race, but the actual transfers were scheduled to follow only once anti-doping clearance had been confirmed.
Race Director Zack Amodu said the decision to publicly confirm the payments was meant to properly recognise the domestic runners and reinforce that their efforts are appreciated. Amodu also highlighted that the organisers continue to offer accommodation and separate recognition for local participants, adding that the event has seen a clear improvement in performance levels.
- During the 11th edition, four Nigerian athletes recorded times faster than 31 minutes.
- Raymond Iliya Gyang topped the national group with a run of 30:28, finishing 28 seconds outside the 30-minute mark.
- Amodu used the results to praise Dunia and Oceanwaves for backing Nigerian athletes and urged other businesses and private individuals to invest in distance running to support a pathway to global competition.
The Okpekpe race also holds historic standing in the region: it was the first road event in West Africa to receive an official World Athletics label. It was further the first in the wider sub-region to run on a course measured by a World Athletics-accredited official, helping set a regulatory reference point for distance running standards across West Africa.
