Okpekpe Gets IAAF Bronze Renewal

Organisers of the annual Okpekpe 10-km road race broke new grounds in the global marathon races when it received a renewal certificate from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) listing the annual event now in its fourth year with another bronze label for 2016.

Disclosing this to the media through its media spokesman Dare Esan, the organisers, Pamodzi sports Marketing expressed appreciation for the global recognition and acceptance of the Okpekpe 10-km Road Race by the international body stressing that the 2016 bronze label renewal would spur it towards improving on the way the competition is being organised to be in sync with international best practices.

According to the IAAF letter of recognition which was displayed to newsmen in Lagos, the international body’s letter signed by its President Sebastine Coe read: “We hereby certify that Okpekpe International 10-km Road Race has been awarded the IAAF Road Race bronze label.”

The media executive revealed further that the organisers have lofty ideas which they hope to introduce during the fourth edition, meant to ensure that its rating improves further in the annals of IAAF’s Road Races.

The 2016 bronze label certificate makes the okpekpe road race the only sanctioned IAAf event in Nigeria and the only 10 km labelled race in Africa.

However, the annual Okpekpe Road race has been embraced by the indigenes who look forward to the event with great expectation.

The National President of Okpekpe Clan Development Union (OCDU), Sir Ellams Umogane, disclosed this to reporters in a telephone chat that: “To some people, the advertorial on television, newspapers stories seem surreal in view of the fact that such places and events are not easy to come by in Nigeria. These people have insisted on witnessing this year’s event.

“Some of them deliberately will not travel home for Easter because they want to be part of this year’s history making event.”

Next event is schedules for the 7th May 2016.