Okpekpe Race Awards ₦8m to Local Athletes for Empowerment

Six indigenous athletes from Okpekpe were awarded a total of ₦8 million in prize money as part of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, which has been held annually since 2013. Omokhagbor Sixtus, a local figure, expressed gratitude towards Mike Itemuagbor, Idris Umar, and Hon. Abubakar Momoh for their roles in this initiative, which aims to empower the community.

The prize money was credited directly to the athletes' bank accounts, with James Raphael and Jessica Matthew winning ₦1.5 million each for their first-place finishes. Innocent Odamah and Loveth Joseph received ₦1.3 million each for second place, while Abuke Nathaniel and Bose Etsekumhe earned ₦1.2 million each for third place.

This was the first time all six athletes earned over ₦1 million from athletics. The community prize fund was sponsored by Idris Umar and Hon. Abubakar Momoh, alongside race promoter Mike Itemuagbor, who emphasized the race's commitment to community development and talent discovery.