The organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have said that the event will return in May 2026 “after unforeseen circumstances scuttled the 2025 edition.”
The CEO of Padmozi Sports International, Mike Itemuagbor, whose outfit organises the event, yesterday, said that the race will come back bigger in scope, reaffirming its status as a world-class sporting event.
“The Okpekpe race is coming back stronger in 2026. Circumstances beyond our control ensured we could not hold this year. We have received a lot of inquiries from both athletes and officials who wanted to participate in the event, which would have been held last month, and we explained to them that the race will come back next year for its 11th edition,” Itemuagbor stated.
The Okpekpe Road Race holds a special place in Nigerian sports history. It was the first road-running event in Nigeria to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified course measurer and the first road race in West Africa to receive a label status in 2015.
This recognition came eight years after World Athletics began classifying road races into categories. Since then, the race has grown from a bronze label to become the first gold label 10km road race in West Africa.
The label status signifies the world-class nature of the event, attracting elite athletes from across the globe. Over the years, the race has welcomed competitors from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Morocco, Bahrain, and Nigeria, among others.
The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race offers significant prize money to top finishers. The winner in each gender category receives $15,000, while the second and third-place finishers earn $8,000 and $5,000, respectively. Fourth and fifth places take home $3,000 and $2,000.
Additionally, athletes who break the course record receive a bonus of $2,000, while those who set a new African or World record earn $5,000. This incentive encourages elite runners to push their limits and deliver exceptional performances.
