Okpekpe 10km Road Race Returns Next Year

The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious road-running events, is set to make a grand return in May 2026.
According to Mike Itemuagbor, CEO of Pamodzi Sports International, organizers of the event, the race will come back bigger in scope, reaffirming its status as a world-class sporting event.
“The Okpekpe race is coming back stronger in 2026. Circumstances beyond our control ensured we could not hold this year. We have received a lot of inquiries from both athletes and officials who wanted to participate in the event, which would have held last month, and we explained to them that the race will come back next year for its 11th  edition,” Itemuagbor stated.
The Okpekpe Road Race remains special  in Nigerian sports history as  the first road-running event  to have its course measured by a World Athletics-certified course measurer as well as the first road race in West Africa to receive a label status in 2015.
This recognition came eight years after World Athletics began classifying road races into categories. Since then, the race has grown from a bronze label to become the first gold label 10km road race in West Africa.
The label status signifies the world-class nature of the event, attracting elite athletes from across the globe. Over the years, the race has welcomed competitors from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Morocco, Bahrain, and Nigeria, among others.
The event has not only put Nigeria on the global athletics map but has also inspired other race organisers in the country to aspire for label status.
Beyond its athletic significance, the race has played a transformative role in the Okpekpe community and its surroundings. The event has opened up the rustic, rural town to the world, bringing economic and tourism benefits to Edo State.
The race has also encouraged the development of other road races in Nigeria, many of which now have their courses measured by certified professionals.