Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have announced the payment of prize money to Nigerian winners of the 11th edition of the race, highlighting a development they said was significant in a country where athletes have often complained of delayed payments after road races.
The prize money, sponsored by Peter Dunia, a security expert and chief executive of security company Oceanwaves, was paid after the race held in May.
Dunia had personally presented dummy cheques to the winners immediately after the event, while the organisers have now publicly announced the completion of the payment after the completion of international doping-control requirements.
The prize money was three million naira for first place, two million naira for second and one million naira for third in each gender category.
The organisers said the public announcement was intended to recognise the Nigerian athletes and demonstrate that their participation in the race was valued.
