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Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have sent a passionate congratulatory message to Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, former two-time governor of Edo State as he marked his 74th birthday on Good Friday.<\/p>\n
Oshiomhole also doubles as ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and current senator representing Edo North.<\/p>\n
He’s widely regarded as the man who made the historic race possible through the construction of the roads in the Imiegba area, which opened up Okpekpe town.<\/p>\n
\n Without that road, the race, now Nigeria’s first internationally certified road running event, would never have taken place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since its inception in 2013, the Okpekpe race has grown into a landmark sporting event.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A label status signifies that a race meets strict international standards for organization, safety, and course accuracy, ensuring that performances are recognized globally for rankings and records.<\/p>\n Mike Adoga Itemuagbor, promoter and originator of the race, praised Oshiomhole’s vision and commitment.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond his role as a pioneer, Oshiomhole also participated as a runner in several editions of the race, embodying its spirit and inspiring others.<\/p>\n His involvement since 2013, and especially from 2015 when the race achieved label status, underscores his dedication to sports development and community upliftment.<\/p>\n The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has since inspired the birth of many other certified road races across Nigeria, cementing Oshiomhole’s plaas a trailblazer in athletics.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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