Ogbeide Donates ₦1m To Athletic Heat Anniversary Meet
Veteran Nigerian 400m athlete Wilson Ogbeide has donated ₦1 million towards the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Pre-National Sports Festival Meet scheduled for November 7 at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.
In recognition of his contribution and distinguished career, the men’s 400m event at the one-day competition will be named the Wilson Ogbeide Men’s 400m.
Athletic Heat CEO Ese Oguma expressed appreciation to Ogbeide, describing the donation as a major boost to efforts to stage the competition and provide athletes with an opportunity to compete ahead of the National Sports Festival.
Ogbeide said his decision to support the meet was driven by his belief that athletics development should be a collective effort.
The former Nigerian international said his passion for supporting young athletes grew from his experience with developmental track meets in Oregon, where he saw former athletes, coaches, officials, parents and volunteers work together to create opportunities for the next generation.
‘I followed Athletic Heat for the past nine years and have seen its consistent promotion of athletics in Nigeria and abroad,’ Ogbeide said.
He added that meeting Oguma in Oregon and learning that much of his work was self-funded convinced him to support the anniversary meet, particularly because of its developmental component.
Ogbeide has previously supported Nigerian athletes by helping those travelling through Oregon and collecting donated running shoes, athletic clothing and equipment for athletes and young people training at the National Stadium in Lagos.
A former international athlete, Ogbeide was also an NAIA national indoor and outdoor 400m champion. He recorded a personal best of 46.33 seconds in the 400m in 2000.
Now retired from competitive athletics, he remains involved in the sport as a coach and currently serves as a track coach at Riverdale High School.
The Athletic Heat anniversary meet will feature a wide range of men’s and women’s track and field events, including the 100m, 400m, middle-distance races, hurdles, jumps, throws and mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
The competition will also serve as a pre-National Sports Festival meet, giving athletes an opportunity to test their form ahead of the festival.
Athletic Heat has partnered with Roaster Athletics for live results, while athlete registration will be powered by A3 Tickets.
Coach Olawale Olatunji will serve as Technical Director, with Coach Adebote Olalekan as Meeting Manager/TIC Head and Coach Olalekan Soetan as Meeting Manager/TIC.
The technical team will also include track referee Otegbeye Funmilola, field referee Ibrahim Friday, Jumps Coordinator Femi Daramola and AFN Delegate/Chief Coordinator Olu Sule.
The November 7 competition will mark a decade of Athletic Heat’s coverage and promotion of athletics in Nigeria and Africa.
