Okpekpe Race organisers hail Oshiomhole at 74
Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have congratulated Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and current senator
Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have congratulated Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and current senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, as he marked his 74th birthday on Friday.
Oshiomhole is widely regarded as the man who made the historic race possible through the construction of a road in the Imiegba area, which opened up Okpekpe town. Without that road, the race — now Nigeria's first internationally certified road running event — would never have taken place.
Since its inception in 2013, the Okpekpe race has grown into a landmark sporting event. In 2015, it became the first road race in Nigeria to have its course measured and certified by World Athletics, and the first in West Africa to earn a World Athletics Label status — a designation awarded to races that meet strict international standards for organisation, safety and course accuracy, ensuring performances are recognised globally for rankings and records.
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Mike Adoga Itemuagbor, promoter and originator of the race, praised Oshiomhole's vision and commitment.
"Comrade Oshiomhole is more than a leader; he is a race himself. He literally gave us the Okpekpe race, and through it, Nigeria entered the global road-running map. His legacy deserves to be celebrated not only in politics but in athletics," Itemuagbor said.
Beyond his role as a pioneer, Oshiomhole has also participated as a runner in several editions of the race, embodying its spirit and inspiring others. His involvement since 2013 — and especially from 2015, when the race achieved label status — underscores his dedication to sports development and uplift of the community.
The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has since inspired the birth of many other certified road races across Nigeria, cementing Oshiomhole's place as a trailblazer in athletics. As he turns 74, organisers say it is fitting to celebrate him not just as a statesman, but as the man who ran, built and inspired a race that continues to put Nigeria on the world stage.
