The Okpekpe International Road Race will kick off this morning in Okpekpe, Edo state. The State governor, Adams Oshiomhole and other top dignitaries are expected to take part in the 10km road race.
Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Sport Matters, Chief Mike Itemuagbo confirmed that the Comrade Governor, has registered for the race.
The race is put in place by the Edo State government, in collaboration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and other organisations.
It is aimed at exposing the Okpekpe and its environs to people and esteemed athletes from different parts of the world.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has also confirmed the entries from both Kenya and Ethiopia and other East Africa runners who will be competing for the 50,000 dollars total price money.
About 4,000 athletes are to compete in the race today in Okpekpe, Etsako-East Local Government Area of Edo.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Sixtus Omokhagbon, disclosed the figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okpekpe, on Friday.
He said about 3, 500 athletes had so far registered and the figure was expected to increase to 4, 000 as several other athletes have shown interest to enter for the race before the end of Friday. He also confirmed that the race had athletes from South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and other African countries.
Some of them include Deriba Merga, Tilahum Regassa, Abere Chane Lema, Sofia Shemsu and Salam Abere Alebachew from Ethiopia, while Moses Masai, Yusuf Biwott, Fredrick Kipchumba, Betty Chepleting and Georgia Rono from Kenya.
Some of these runners have made their mark on a global scale in marathon circuits and are expected to show outstanding performance because Kenya and Ethiopia have dominated world long distance running over the years.
Similarly, Local runners here in Nigeria are also getting set to have a piece of the action and give the visitors a formidable challenge. They have been in camp in Afuze, Edo State.
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, said the Okpekpe race will help re-ignite athletics in Nigeria and also open to the world the serene Okepekpe town, which is the highest point in Edo State.
“We are excited by the AFN to organise the first road race in this part of the world. For me, we have no apologise as some people say we want to showcase the road to Okpekpe is beautiful.
“We actually want to show there is life in rural Nigeria,” said Ogba.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Area Commander, Mr David Jimmwan, has said that adequate security arrangement had been made to cover the area before, during and after the competition.
Jimmwan said the Commissioner of Police, State Security Service and Divisional Police Officers from the Etsako Federal Constituency had already met on the security arrangements.
He said that over 100 police officers would be deployed for the race, assuring visitors and residents that there was nothing to fear.
“We will be working in concert with other security agencies, to ensure a smooth race.’’
Speaking on the event, the monarch of Okpekpe, Chief Peter Osigbemhe, said: “We are also benefiting economically from the race. We will use it to show the world not only our rich tradition but the people’s hospitality.
“The world will see that this sleepy community that is surrounded by mountains has good and hospitable people.”
NAN reports that the winner of the male category of the competition will go home with N2.5m, while the female gets N1.8m and N100, 000 would be for the first indigene of the community in the race.