Six Okpekpe Athletes Share ₦8m Indigenous Prize Fund

The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has transformed into a significant force for community empowerment, celebrating six indigenous athletes from the host community who collectively received ₦8 million (approximately $9,600 USD) in prize money. This initiative underscores the event's commitment to delivering lasting benefits beyond athletic competition.

Omokhagbor Sixtus, a long-time participant in the race since its 2013 inception, highlighted the importance of these cash rewards. "We sincerely appreciate Mike Itemuagbor, Idris Umar and Hon. Abubakar Momoh for this great initiative and for creating an opportunity that has lifted six Okpekpe athletes to millionaire status," Sixtus said. "This is not just a victory for the athletes but a moment of pride for the entire Okpekpe community."

The prize money was directly deposited into the athletes' bank accounts. This special fund is exclusively for indigenous athletes from Okpekpe, ensuring the community directly shares in the event's success. The program aims to motivate young residents by demonstrating that athletic excellence can lead to substantial financial rewards.

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We sincerely appreciate Mike Itemuagbor, Idris Umar and Hon. Abubakar Momoh for this great initiative and for creating an opportunity that has lifted six Okpekpe athletes to millionaire status. This is not just a victory for the athletes but a moment of pride for the entire Okpekpe community.

James Raphael and Jessica Matthew each earned ₦1.5 million for winning the men's and women's titles, respectively. Innocent Odamah and Loveth Joseph secured ₦1.3 million each for their second-place finishes, while Abuke Nathaniel and Bose Etsekumhe received ₦1.2 million each for placing third. For all six, this marked their first time earning over ₦1 million from athletics.

The community prize fund was a collaborative effort, sponsored by businessman Idris Umar of Dan Oil and Hon. Abubakar Momoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Niger Delta Development, in partnership with race promoter Mike Itemuagbor. Itemuagbor emphasized the race's founding philosophy: "The Okpekpe Road Race has always been about more than elite competition. From the beginning, our vision has been to use sport as a tool for development by creating opportunities for our people, discovering new talents and ensuring that the host community benefits directly from the global recognition the race has attracted."

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The Okpekpe Road Race has always been about more than elite competition. From the beginning, our vision has been to use sport as a tool for development by creating opportunities for our people, discovering new talents and ensuring that the host community benefits directly from the global recognition the race has attracted.