By our reporter 6.11.2026
National Sports Commission director-general Hon. Bukola Olopade has added more financial muscle to the Athletic Heat 10th anniversary meet, which holds Saturday November 7 at the Yaba College of Technology sports complex Lagos.
Olapade who has never hidden his love for track and field dropped N6m, which almost covers the prize monies to won at the one-day meet. According to the NSC director-general the gesture is aimed at rewarding athletes and supporting the successful staging of the anniversary event.
Under the arrangement, Olopade has earmarked ₦4 million for winners in the throwing events, with ₦500,000 allocated to the winner of each of the eight events. He has also committed an additional ₦2 million towards the competition’s logistics.
Athletic Heat CEO, Ese Oguma, welcomed the gesture, expressing gratitude to Olopade for his support and continued commitment to sports development in Nigeria.
Oguma noted that backing from sports administrators and other stakeholders is crucial to improving competition standards, providing financial incentives for athletes and creating more opportunities for young talents to demonstrate their potential.
Meanwhile over 850 athletes are already warming for the meeting. They include Nigerian internationals Miracle Ezechukwu, Samson Nathaniel and Adams Samuel Kure among the leading attractions.
Ezechukwu, one of Nigeria’s brightest sprint prospects, is expected to feature in the women’s 100m following an impressive rise on the national and international athletics scene.
The teenage sprinter enjoyed a breakthrough in 2025, winning three gold medals at the African U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abeokuta.
She has maintained her impressive progression in 2026, setting personal bests of 11.15 seconds in the 100m and 22.77 seconds in the 200m.