Okpekpe 10km Race Names Oshiomhole, Ahmed Ambassadors As Countdown Begins

With just 30 days remaining until the 2026 Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, organisers have unveiled former Edo State governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and sports technology expert Yasser Ahmed as official ambassadors, reinforcing the event’s growing global profile.

Pamodzi Sports Marketing, promoters of the race, said the appointments recognise the duo’s instrumental roles in elevating the competition to international prominence. The Okpekpe race has steadily evolved into one of Africa’s most respected road running events and remains a benchmark for organisational excellence on the continent.

Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, Mike Itemuagbor, explained that the ambassadorial roles go beyond symbolic recognition. “Ambassadors are selected not merely for their public standing but for their tangible contributions to the race’s growth, sustainability, and international credibility,” he said. “Senator Oshiomhole represents infrastructural foresight, while Yasser Ahmed exemplifies technical precision.”

Oshiomhole is widely credited with laying the foundation for the race through the construction of the road network that gave birth to the event in 2013.

His infrastructural intervention transformed Okpekpe from a relatively obscure rural community into a globally recognised sporting destination. Ahmed, as Chief Executive of Premier Sports Timing, has ensured world-class timing standards since inception, a critical factor in securing international certification and athlete trust.

Scheduled for 23 May in Okpekpe, Edo State, the race holds World Athletics Gold Label status—an elite designation shared by only a select number of road races globally, and just a handful in Africa. Notably, it was the first race in West Africa to achieve this recognition.

The event has also attracted top-tier athletes over the years. Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo holds the men’s course record of 28:28, while Kazakhstan’s Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui set the women’s record of 32:38 in 2023.

Beyond competition, the race has become a catalyst for tourism and economic activity in the Edo North Senatorial District. Each edition draws international visitors, boosts local commerce, and showcases the region’s unique landscape and hospitality.

With preparations entering the final stretch, the 2026 edition promises another spectacle of elite athletics, cultural celebration, and community engagement, further cementing Okpekpe’s reputation as Nigeria’s flagship road race.