Ikogosi Race brought business to Ekiti communities, says Araoye

With over 8,000 participants from 28 Nigerian states and three other African countries taken part in the fourth Ikogosi 17.5km Race in Ekiti State on Saturday, October 31, founder Makinde Araoye said the race was meant to do more than showcase athletics.

The race recorded about 13,700 registrations, with athletes, officials and visitors coming from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Hotels monitored by the organisers in Ikogosi-Ekiti and Ilawe-Ekiti were fully booked over the weekend. The Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, venue of the finish-line activities, and six preferred hotels in Ado-Ekiti also reported full occupancy. Local farmers supplied oranges, watermelons and bananas to participants, while food vendors along the route saw increased patronage. Ekiti-based vendors produced 8,000 running vests and 8,000 numbered bibs. Organisers said the hospitality, transport, agriculture and food service sectors all benefited, and indigenous artists performed at the finish line.

“When we established the Ikogosi Race in 2014, our vision extended beyond athletics,” he said. “We wanted to create a sporting platform that would attract visitors, promote Ekiti’s tourism potential and generate meaningful economic opportunities for our communities.”

“Every hotel room booked, every local supplier contracted, every farmer engaged and every young person employed represents the wider economic value of this initiative,” Araoye added. “Our ambition is to build an internationally recognised sporting event that contributes to the economic development of Ekiti State year after year.”

According to the organisers, the Ikogosi Marathon Initiative engaged 200 paid volunteers and contracted local firms for logistics, event production, photography, videography and digital content. It employs 10 permanent staff and provides accommodation for 12 National Youth Service Corps members.

The race carried a total prize purse of ₦30 million, with awards for the top 20 men and women. The male and female winners each received ₦2 million, and 40 Ekiti indigenes also won cash prizes.

For safety, 100 medical practitioners were engaged and the Nigeria Police Force provided security. The Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency supported traffic management and road diversions.

Organisers acknowledged problems with starting-line infrastructure, water distribution and the collection of finishers’ medals. They said injured participants received medical help and outstanding medals would be given to verified finishers. They are reviewing safety, hydration and crowd management measures ahead of the next edition.

The initiator said it has invested about ₦550 million in its events since inception, funded solely by the MKD Araoye Foundation. The figures in this report were supplied by the organisers and have not been independently verified.

Organisers plan an international edition in 2027 and have called for stronger support from the Ekiti State Government and more private-sector sponsorship and corporate social responsibility funding. They said sustained public-private partnerships would be critical to expanding the event and creating more jobs.

They thanked Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his support.

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