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Tag: OKPEKPE

  • Okpekpe Road Race: I didn’t know I’ll win, says fastest Nigerian female

    Deborah Pam, the fastest Nigerian female at the just-concluded 5th Okpekpe 10km Road Race on Monday said she did not believe she would win because she was just recovering from an injury.

    The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Bronze label road race held on May 13 in Okpekpe Town in Edo.

    Pam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that her success was due to consistent training when she was injury free.

    “I will attribute my success to training, I train everyday unless I am not healthy but I never thought that I will win the 5th Okpekpe race because I was just recovering from injury.

    “I really want to thank my training partner, Emmanuel Gyang, he kept pushing me not to give up. I am also grateful to God because he gave me the strength,’’ she said.

    Pam, who works in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said her way of relaxing was training effortlessly in order not to be caught unawares.

    Ethiopian duo of Luel Gebrasilasis and Azmera Gebru emerged winners in the male and female foreign elite categories of the race.

    Gebrasilasis coasted home to victory in 29:28secs, clinching the top prize of 15,000 dollars, while his compatriot, Dawit Fikadu came second with a time of 29:34 secs and received the 10,000 dollars prize money.

    Ethiopian, Jemeli Bekeli also touched the finish line in 32:22secs to win the third prize of 7,000 dollars.

    The fastest Nigerian in the male category of the race was Plateau State-born Jigade Monday, who raced to the finish line in 31:53secs, followed by Emmanuel Gyang and Ismail Sajor, in the second and third positions respectively.

    In the female category, Gebru, completed the race in 33:59secs, followed by Kenya’s Veronica Maina, who finished in 34:19secs and Timbili Jemeli, also from Kenya, third with a time of 34:39secs.

    The fastest Nigerian female athlete in the race, Deborah Pam, finished with a time of 38:15secs and was followed by Elizabeth Nuhu from Nasarawa State with 38:41secs.

    Rose Ajusho came third with a time of 38:55secs.

    For the Nigerian male and female categories, the winners, first and second runners-up got N250,000, N100,000 and N80,000, respectively.

  • Eight nations confirmed for 5th Okpekpe Road Race

    Elite athletes from as many as eight countries will participate in next weekend’s fifth Okpekpe international 10km road race in Okpekpe, Etsako East local government area of Edo state.

    The countries who have confirmed their participation according to Dare Esan, spokesman for the race are Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania, Morocco, Turkey, Burundi and of course the host nation, Nigeria.

    ‘We are delighted to announce that elite athletes from eight countries will participate in the IAAF Bronze label race scheduled for Saturday May 13th,’says Esan who revealed that former Nigerian track and field international Yusuf Ali who is the top technical official of the race, has confirmed the number of participating countries based on the conclusion of the international elite athletes registration.

    ‘This is in fulfilment of the IAAF conditions for a label race. The rules state that all label races, from gold to bronze must have a certain number of international elite field spread across four or five countries depending on the class of the label,’ explains Esan who added that the desire of the Okpekpe organisers is to move to the silver label rating by next year.

    ‘Bronze Label races must have an international elite field with a minimum of five men and five women participating in the competition and a minimum of four different nationalities must be represented,’ Esan revealed who added that organisers of this year’s edition of the race have fulfilled even conditions met for a gold label race.

    ‘For example we have over 10 men and 10 women elite runners from eight countries participating in the race. For gold and silver labelled races, the international elite field must be a minimum of five men and five women participating in the competition and a minimum of at least five different nationalities,’ he said.

    This, according to Esan, could be, for example, elite men from 3 countries and elite women from 2 countries for mixed gender races which Okpekpe is.

    ‘It is clear that we are already on the right track for a silver label rating come next year, ‘he said.

    The Okpekpe international 10km road race is powered by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, leaders in sports marketing and hospitality business in Nigeria.

    It is the first and only road race in Nigeria whose race course has been measured by an IAAF/AIMS accredited measurer and has been granted full membership of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

  • Okpekpe Road Race organiser hails Ambode, Access Bank

    Okpekpe Road Race organiser hails Ambode, Access Bank

    Organiser of the Okpekpe 10km international road race, Mike Itemuagbor has congratulated Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and Access Bank for successfully hosting the second edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon last Saturday in Lagos.

    “I congratulate Governor Ambode for promising and delivering a world class marathon and Access Bank for sponsoring the event,” said Itemuagbor whose race, the Okpekpe 10km international road race is the first and so far only road race in Nigeria to get an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) label. I am particularly delighted that the second edition of the Lagos Marathon was a remarkable improvement on the first edition and hope subsequent editions would even be much better,” he further said and harped on the health implications of running.

    “Health they say is wealth. A healthy nation will definitely be productive and by extension prosperous. And experts have not ceased to emphasise on the benefits of exercising to the body. By organising this marathon, the governor is not only promoting sports and tourism in Lagos state but also ensuring he governs over a healthy community of people.”

    Itemuagbor also hopes Governor Ambode will strive to take the marathon to the next level by making it the first full marathon in West Africa to get an IAAF label.

    “That will make Nigeria the only country in Africa to have two IAAF label races. With the conclusion of the second edition of the Lagos Marathon, organisers of the event can apply for a bronze label for the race and I am confident their application will be favourably considered.”

    Meanwhile, the fifth Okpekpe 10km international road race will hold on Saturday, May 13 in Okpekpe, Edo State.

  • Okpekpe international 10km road race: Ndiema replaces injured Habtegebrel

    Okpekpe international 10km road race: Ndiema replaces injured Habtegebrel

    Top Kenya long distance and road runner, Esther Chemtai Ndiema has replaced Shitane Habtegebrel in the list of elite athletes for next month’s fourth Okpekpe International 10-km Road Race in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo state.

    Dare Esan,spokesman for the IAAF bronze label race says the Bahrainian, Habtegebrel pulled out because of injury.

    “Habtegebrel, a silver level running athlete is injured after she has been confirmed for the race and our elite athletes manager, Walter Abmayr has promptly replaced her with the Kenyan Ndiema,” said Esan who further revealed that Ndiema is a gold level running athlete.

    “This has brought the number of gold level running athletes for the race from four to five women following the confirmation of Pascalia Kipkoech, Maryane Wanjiru and Polline Wanjiku from Kenya and Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Gudeta for the race. These are all gold level running athletes,” said a delighted Esan.

    “‘It’s obvious we are organising a bronze label event with the requirements for a gold label race. This is a demonstration of our determination to improve to a silver label rating next year. This is the dream of Pamodzi Sports Marketing (PSM), organisers of the only IAAF label race in Nigeria nay West Africa and one of only two in Africa this year,” he further said.

    Esan also revealed that IAAF is taking keen interest in the race, which is the second of four labelled 10-km races in the world this year after the IAAF Gold

    Label World’s Best 10-km race in San Juan,Puerto Rico in February and the IAAF Gold Label Ottawa 10-km race in Ottawa,Canada on May 28 and IAAF Bronze Label B.A.A. 10-km race in Boston, USA in June.

    “Since it is a label race which means it is one of the leading road races in the world, the IAAF autoamtically takes interest in how it is organised and we are delighted to announce that we are ready to organise a benchmark edition this year.

    “The world governing body for the sport has sent a list of requirements that must be followed. The race will be organised in accordance with the IAAF Competition Rules and that of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria who are providing the technical patnership for the race with our international elite athletes manager, Abmayr.

    “Our race director, Zakari Amodu will ensure that all Officials and Competitors are fully informed regarding IAAF Competition Rules,” revealed Esan.

  • Okpekpe grabs Linkage Assurance plc’s sponsorship

    Okpekpe grabs Linkage Assurance plc’s sponsorship

    Director of Organisation for the annual Okpekpe 10-kilometre road race, Zak Amodu has revealed that the body has secured the sponsorship of Linkage  Assurance plc as the Official Insurer of the second edition slated to hold on May 7.

    Disclosing this at a world press conference in Lagos on  Sunday, Amodu said: ” In our determination to meet the requirement of the IAAF label condition, we have this afternoon secured the sponsorship of Linkage Assurance plc as the Official Insurer of the fourth edition of the OKPEKPE road road. They will provide insurance cover for the entire 3000 runners  expected this year on a value in kind basis with some cash to support the overall race organisation.

    “The total financial commitment of N10 million will be  envisaged to cover the following: 1.Death benefit for each athlete and official; 2. Permanent Disablement; 3. Medical Expenses. Linkage will be the joining the following broadcast partners:

    Supersports – they will broadcast on Pay TV and support with a pre-event Lets Play activity for 2000  kids on  the 6th May 2016. AIT will be broadcasting terrestrial as a broadcast partner alongside Channels TV.

    “As in the first bronze label race, we are committed to improving our status with the ambition of getting a silver label.

  • Okpekpe monarch commences issuance of registration forms

    The Onwueweko of Okpekpe, His Royal Highness (HRH) Peter Abalumhe Osigbemeh yesterday told SportingLife that he has commenced the issuance of registration forms to intending athletes in the North Ibie category of 2016 Okpekpe 10 kilometer road race.

    He said with the introduction of prizes for the category of athletes, he was optimistic that most of his youths would participate in this May 7 competition.

    Speaking with SportingLife on phone yesterday, he revealed that some of his subjects have started contacting their notable runners in the city to come home for the registration forms.

    The traditional ruler who has always charged his youths to work hard to clinch the prizes, divulged that, “I am told that we have one very fast runner in Suleja and they have already asked him to come for the form.”

    He said : “The organizers of the race Padmozi Sport Marketing (PMS) sent some registration forms to my palace yesterday (Wednesday). Interested athletes have been coming to pick the forms since morning.”

    The monarch added: “l am writing the names of those that I have issued the forms to. I will endorse the forms after they fill and return them to my palace.”

    An official of the PMS who also spoke with SportingLife yesterday said that he dispatched 1,000 forms to the North Ibie monarchs.

    He said: “We have about 1,000 forms for the North Ibie athletes. I have already delivered 250 to Onwueweko, 250 to Ogiega. I will deliver to other communities.”

  • OKPEKPE ORGANISERS RECOUNT IAAF SEMINAR BENEFITS

    Organisers of the Okpekpe international 10km road race have said they are now better equipped to stage a benchmark edition on May 7 when the fourth edition of the race holds in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo State.

    The organisers were among other IAAF label race organisers,athletes and IAAF president,Sebastian Coe and his team who gathered at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff last Friday for the first IAAF Road Running Seminar.

    Held on the eve of the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships, the seminar was declared opened by Coe who harped on the need to make road running more visible,popular and appealing.

    “We need to road test and  to innovate to encourage more people to take up our sport.We have to be realistic: road running is the way that we connect in our sport,’he said at the seminar.

    The Nigerian delegation was led by Mike Itemuagbor, owner of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a leader in sports marketing , sponsorship, hospitality  and rights acquisition business in Nigeria. Others in the four-man Nigerian delegation include president of Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Solomon  Ogba, General Manager of Supersports Nigeria, Felix Awogu and Zakari Amodu, the race director.

    ‘The seminar deliberated on issues including but not limited to the values and benefits of road running as well as several key topics within road running,’said Dare Esan,spokesman for the race.

    “Apart from the huge benefits its label status has conferred on it,the seminar has opened up Okpekpe not only as a sporting destination but also one for real  tourism. Many of the other race organisers were at the Okpekpe stand and wanted to know more about the town and about Nigeria,’said Esan who believes many of the participants at the seminar now have a better picture of and positive opinion of Okpekpe and Nigeria.

    Esan is confident the direct beneficiary of the seminar is the race proper as organsers are determined to make the fourth edition of the race serve as a benchmark for subsequent editions.

    The Okpekpe international 10km road race is the only IAAF labelled road race in West Africa for 2016,one of only two in Africa this year and one of just three in the continent in 2015.

  • Okpekpe road race plans prizes for North Ibie athletes

    Okpekpe road race plans prizes for North Ibie athletes

    • Organiser to introduce training camp at Okpekpe 

    The organiser of the 4th Okpekpe 10 kilometre road race, Pamodzi Sports Marketing (PSM) has  planned to reward North Ibie athletes with various prizes, Sportinglife learnt at the weekend.

    According to an insider, who spoke to Sportinglife’s Abuja correspondent in confidence, said first prize of N150,000 ,second prize of N100,000 and third prize N50,000  will be available for  winners in the male and female categories.

    The North Ibie comprises of Okpekpe Clan and the Three Ibie Clan : Imiegba, Imiakebu and Itsukwi  of Etasko East Local Government Area, Edo State.

    These novel prizes, said the source, are to pave way for these communities that are of  the same historical background besides their common  Ibie  language, to also benefit from the goldmine.

    “We are coming up with these new prizes for our people to also benefit from the  road race,” said the highly placed source.

    Pamodzi Sports Marketing (PSM) is also planning to introduce a camp in Okpekpe where the national athletes could camp for training.

    This, according to the source, is also aimed at spurring Okpekpe Youths that are interested in the sport to also practice.

    In this year’s race, the competition will begin with the take off of the international athletes, the national athletes while the North Ibie category follows.

    Sportinglife gathered that besides the fact that the organiser has always beefed security, PSM will this year tag participants in the last category in order to checkmate malpractice.

    Sportinglife’s source said: “Normally, once the race takes off no vehicle or bike moves again. We will have to accredit them at the start point with a different label before they take off. ”

    Sportinglife also gathered that the SuperSports which usually holds on the eve of the road race will this year hold at Otsele Primary School, Okpekpe.

  • NEW PRIZE MONEY OUTLAY FOR OKPEKPE RACE

    NEW PRIZE MONEY OUTLAY FOR OKPEKPE RACE

    Organisers of the annual Okpekpe 10km road race have announced a new prize money outlay for the fourth edition of the race which holds on  May 7.

    Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan revealed that $92,000 in prize money will be paid to the top eight finishers in the men and women’s race with the winner in each gender category going home with $15,000 while $10,000 and $7,000 respectively will go to the second and third placed finishers.

    ”The prizes for 4th to 8th placed finishers in each gender category are $5000, $3,000, $2,500, $2,000, and $1,500 respectively,’ said Esan who also revealed the introduction of performance bonuses to this year’s race.

    “Athletes achieving a world leading time will be eligible for a special bonus which will be revealed in due course,”  said Esan who noted that the performance must be an improvement on the existing time.

    He further revealed that the organisers of the race are considering using pacemakers to help the athletes in their record-chasing mission.

    “Pacemakers are runners who lead a middle- or long distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast time and  are frequently employed by race organisers for world record attempts with specific instructions for lap times.This time we are employing them for world leading times,” said Esan who clarified that performances which equal the existing world leading time will not be eligible for a bonus.

    Esan also explained why there is a reduction in the prize money for the top three finishers in this year’s race.

    Last year the top three finishers were rewarded with $25,000,$15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

    “We are concerned about the quality of athletes we invite for the race because of its status as the only IAAF bronze-labelled 10km road race in Africa and one of only two IAAF labelled road race in Africa so far this year.In fact that is why we brought in the highly respected international marathon/road race organiser,Walter Abmayr to ensure we get athletes who can run world leading times here in Okpekpe.

    “We know athletes who have attained gold level or silver level running status will demand appearance fees and that is why  some of the invited athletes will be paid appearance fees. We really want to go for the best legs in the world because Okpekpe 10km road race is an international event certified by the IAAF,’”Esan said.

    The total prize purse has been increased to N1.1m with the first placed finishers in both the men and women race going home with N250,000 while the second to the fifth placed finishers will get  N100,000, N80,000, N70,000 and N50,000 respectively,”he said and noted that the payment of prize money and bonuses is dependent upon athletes clearing the usual anti-doping procedures.

  • Okpekpe mourns as eldest man dies at 140

    The Okpekpe kingdom which hosts the popular 10-kilometer road race in Edo State has been thrown into a celebration-like mourning with the passage of its eldest son, also known as Agidigbo .

    Pa Maliki Enegbuma died on February 16. He was born into the family of Pa Enegbuma Enezunu about 140 years ago, said his son, Chief Maliki Enegbuma.

    The death of his predecessor, Pa Okpo Ekule, foisted the position upon him on February 14, 2004.

    Ascension to the position of Agidigbo is by providence. Speaking on behalf of the family, his son, Chief Afebuamhe Maliki, said the remains of the deceased were deposited in a morgue. He added that the burial rites will begin on April 1 and end on April 3.

    By tradition, any Agidigbo is the father of all sons and daughters of Okpekpe, who at one time or the other seek his blessings, especially for longevity . In Okpekpe social milieu, an Agidigbo is presumed to be a member of all the  ultural troupes.

    Pa Enegbuma was always described as the eldest man with the agility of a youth. He never confined himself to a solitary life on the grounds of age neither did he allow his age to affect his neatness and social life. Till his age took a toll on him, he could still thread a needle and gallop around the community like a horse.

    He lived an eventful life. Of all the Agidigbos of Okpekpe, he was the first to walk on a tarred road right in his homeland. Besides, he was the eldest when the clan began hosting the 10-kilometer road race.

    “Pa Maliki  will present a catalogue and  modern history of Okpekpe to his ancestors,” said his son.