Nigerian 400m champion Edidiong Udo has announced a ₦200,000 performance incentive for athletes who meet target times in the men’s and women’s 800m at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet in Lagos.
The anniversary competition will take place on November 7 at the Yabatech Sports Complex, with the middle-distance events designated the Edidiong Udo Men’s 800m and Edidiong Udo Women’s 800m.
Female runners who clock below 2:07, as well as male competitors who go under 1:52, will collect the bonus in addition to any prize money earned through their finishing position. Udo will also provide rewards for the first four athletes home in both races.
Having started out as an 800m athlete before later moving down to the 400m, Udo said his support for the races comes from a personal connection to the distance.
“I competed in the 800m before, so it is very meaningful for me to support this event,” he said. “I want athletes to continue training and competing, while giving themselves an opportunity to earn something for their efforts.”
He added that Athletic Heat’s 10-year commitment to raising athletes’ profiles made its anniversary event deserving of backing.
“For the last 10 years, Athletic Heat has represented excellence and I want to be involved in that,” Udo said. “They are staging this meet to mark a decade, and I urge every Nigerian and African athlete to join this important occasion.”
Udo also commended Athletic Heat founder and chief executive Ese Oguma for his work in the sport.
“Ese Oguma has used this platform to promote Nigerian athletes and athletes from across Africa,” Udo said. “I value that greatly and wanted to play a role in what they are creating.”
Oguma said Udo’s contribution would provide valuable encouragement for competitors.
“Edidiong understands the journey of growing in athletics because he ran the 800m before transitioning to the 400m,” Oguma said. “His choice to back the men’s and women’s 800m races, while also offering a performance reward, is an excellent gesture for the athletes.”
Udo encouraged athletes to enter the meet and pursue the incentive. “Keep preparing, keep putting in the work, and hopefully you can also earn some nice cash for yourself,” he said.
Udo won the Nigerian 400m title in 2022 before receiving a scholarship to The Ohio State University. During this season, he improved his lifetime best to 44.91 seconds at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, becoming the second Nigerian athlete to run under 45 seconds in 2026.
He represented Team Nigeria for the first time at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he placed eighth in the 400m final. He also contributed to Nigeria’s bronze-medal finish in the mixed 4x400m relay.
