Author: PositiveNaija

The Okpekpe international 10km road race has been elevated to an International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF Silver Label status for 2018.

According to Alessio Punzi, the IAAF Road Running Manager:

“Following a thorough review of your application; in recognition of the role played by your event for the promotion of elite road racing in your region, and of your efforts towards the improvement of the technical aspects of the event, the IAAF is happy to inform you that the Okpekpe Road Race 10KM is upgraded to IAAF Silver Label status for 2018.”

Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan stated:

“We are delighted the IAAF has recognised our leading role in promoting road running in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The Okpekpe international 10km road race has set the pace for other road races in Nigeria [and] West Africa.

We are the first road race in West Africa to be designated by the IAAF as one of the leading road races around the world since the classification was introduced in 2008. For three years since 2015 the race was organised under the prestigious IAAF Road Race Bronze Label and and now we are the first road race to be granted a silver label status in West Africa.”

Dare Esan revealed the official Label certificate signed by the IAAF president, Lord Sebastian Coe has been received by the organisers of the race.

As disclosed by Dare Esan:

“The success story of the Okpekpe international 10km road race would not have been possible without the active role played by the Edo state government who provided the enabling environment, including a world class tarred road from Auchi to the hilly town of Okpekpe.

We are particularly grateful to His Excellencies, Comrade Adam Oshiomole, the immediate past governor of Edo state under whose watch the race was launched and his successor, Godwin Obaseki whose advice and words of encouragement have made the race better.

We are also grateful to the Honourable Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung who availed us of his presence at the fifth edition of the race on May 13 this year.”

Dare Esan believes the roles played by sponsors and media partners of the race as well as the Nigeria Police, the Directorate of state security (DSS), the Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been massive.

Dare Esan further said:

“Supersports and Channels are our official media partners and they, like the rest of the media have projected the race, the hilly town of Okpekpe, Edo state and indeed Nigeria as a destination of sort in terms of sports.

We also thank our sponsors led by Ecobank for helping us achieve this historic feat.”

The sixth edition of the race will hold on Saturday May 12, 2018 in Okpekpe in Etsako East local government of Edo state and Dare Esan reveals it will be technology driven.

Dare Esan further revealed:

“In 2015 we scored another first when we engaged MYLAPS Sports Timing, the internationally recognised automatic sports timing company to provide the race with an easy to use, accurate and reliable timing system.

Last year we also launched a tracking application to help fans follow the progress of friends, family or any of the participants who ran at the fifth edition of the race last May.

The tracking application was the first to be launched for a road race in Nigeria and offers mobile features designed to address three core digital needs: information delivery, sponsor activation and race day experience.”

Shola Olowookere has emerged the overall winner of the 2017 Lagos International Taekwondo Classics. He defeated his counterpart from Ghana at the finals of the competition at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

Shola Olowookere, a Lagos State taekwondo athlete and 300 level student of Chemistry Education, University of Lagos, said that the conduct of the competition was of international standard and an exposure to the abilities of athletes from other climes.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Sports, Mr. Deji Tinubu who spoke during the final events of the competition said that the state government will continue to use the opportunity of the Lagos International Teakwondo Classics to expose indigent athletes to the standards of the sporting activity at the global scene.

He said that the competition provided a platform for both experienced and up-coming taekwondo athletes in Nigeria to compete against their peers in other countries.

Tinubu advised the participating athletes to continue to show interest in similar competitions, stressing that the athletes could leverage on the various opportunities made available by the state government to launch themselves to the international scene by showcasing their various talents.

Deji added that apart from the discovering and nurturing of young talents in football, the state government is also extending the opportunity of discovering young talented Lagosians in other sporting activities including taekwondo.

In the words of Mr. Deji:

“As you know that one of the cardinal focus of the Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration is in the area of Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sports for Excellence, T.H.E.S.E. The present administration is seriously implementing the project T.H.E.S.E., to boost tourism, employment generation and relaxation especially for the youth.”

According to the Special Adviser, it is the resolve of the state government to use project T.H.E.S.E, to grow the Lagos economy and empower the youth through several alternative means in which sports development is an integral part.

The 2017 Lagos International Taekwondo Classics was attended by participating athletes from some African countries including Ghana.