The first World Athletics label road running event in West Africa, the Okpekpe international 10km road race, is being organized by Nigerian Breweries Plc, the country’s largest and pioneering brewing company, and Development Bank, Nigeria’s primary development finance institution established to support growth and sustainability, have once again thrown their support behind this historic event, according to the organizers.
As organizers celebrate ten years of world-class road running events in Nigeria, race director Zack Amodu said in a statement yesterday that the two organizations have extended their partnership with the first road race in Nigeria to have its course measured by a World Athletics accredited course measurer.
We are thrilled that both businesses have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that we provide another outstanding event deserving of our gold label designation. Amodu revealed that the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and Nigerian Breweries Plc had contributed to the event’s success.
DBN is the official bank of the route, while Nigerian Breweries Plc will be the official malt beverage.
We are overjoyed that these kind of corporate socially conscious entities have once again supported us. This demonstrates the Okpekpe road race’s rising popularity.
According to Amodu, Nigerian Breweries Plc, the race’s official malt beverage, will revive competitors, onlookers, and officials with its two iconic brands, ZAGG Energy Malt and Amstel Malta.
The race has grown from being the first road race in West Africa to receive the World Athletics Label to becoming the first 10km road race in Nigeria to receive the Gold Label thanks to the assistance of Nigerian Breweries (since 2017) and the Development Bank (from 2018).
We’re thrilled to have the two businesses back with us as we work to become the first African road race to receive a Platinum certification.
The Okpekpe 10km Road Race is recognized as one of the top road races in the world and was the first in West Africa to receive the World Athletics label status in 2015.
This occurred eight years after road running events were first classified by World Athletics.
The tenth edition of this year’s event will take place in Okpekpe town, Edo state, on May 25, 2024.
Carolina Kipkirui of Kazakhstan and Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya set new track records to win the respective men’s and women’s titles last year.