The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has pledged ₦6 million to support the 10th anniversary edition of the Athletic Heat Meet, according to Blueprint Newspapers. The one-day competition takes place on Saturday at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.
Out of the total sum, ₦4 million will serve as prize money specifically for throwing events. Winners across eight different throwing disciplines will each receive ₦500,000, while the remaining ₦2 million goes toward event organisation and operational logistics.
Athletic Heat Chief Executive Officer Ese Oguma appreciated the intervention, stating that support from sports administrators helps raise competitive standards and rewards participants properly. He added that such incentives motivate athletes to stay committed to track and field while testing their abilities on a structured platform.
Over 850 competitors are taking part in the anniversary event, ranging from elite national representatives to grassroots prospects. National team athletes Miracle Ezechukwu and Samson Nathaniel are among the top names listed to feature across sprints, distance races, hurdles, jumps, throws, and mixed relays.
The competition carries official sanctioning from both World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, with accredited technical officials deployed to oversee proceedings. For many participants, the event also serves as key preparation to test their fitness ahead of the upcoming National Sports Festival.
Olopade's contribution joins other private backing, including support from two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who pledged ₦950,000 as prize money for the men's shot put. Running under the theme "10 Years of Impact. A Legacy That Keeps Running," the meet marks a full decade since Athletic Heat began spotlighting and documenting Nigerian and African track and field talents.
