Okpekpe race organisers hail Ecobank for continued partnership

Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have hailed Ecobank Nigeria Limited, an affiliate of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) for renewing its partnership with the race as its official bank.

Ecobank was the official bank of the third and fourth editions of the race in 2015 and 2016 respectively and will now continue in that position and one of the leading sponsors of the race for 2017, Extrasportsnigeria.com reports.

“We are indeed delighted that the leading financial services group in sub-Saharan Africa has continued to identify with us once again,” said Dare Esan, spokesperson for the race.

“The profile of the race as one of the prestigious road races in the world and one of only two in Africa to get an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) label rating has no doubt made it very attractive to sponsors. Now the focus of the entire world will be on Okpekpe, a rustic, hilly town in Etsako East Local Government of Edo State on Saturday May 13 when the fifth edition of the race holds. It will be the 44th IAAF label race of the year and the first to hold in Africa this year.”

Ecobank insists its support for the race is not by chance.

Charles Kie, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria says the bank identifies sports as key component of rapid financial integration and economic development of the Africa continent. He maintains that the bank is well positioned to partner sporting events with regional appeal  that create opportunities for African youths to converged on healthy and competitive basis.

Kie said, “The Okpekpe Race is now synonymous with Ecobank. We are supporting this championship for the fourth year running. It is one of our several ways of supporting sports development. We are impressed and excited with the participation of both local and international athletes across the continent. We will continue to be associated with this mutually beneficial initiative.”

Kie disclosed that Ecobank currently has in place a transformation agenda targeted at becoming one of the top three banks in the country by 2020.