One of Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil and gas companies, Dan Oil and Petrochemicals Limited, as well as The Wells Carlton Hotel and Luxury Apartments, a five star hospitality outfit, have become the latest corporate organisations to throw their weight behind the IAAF silver label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race.
Mercy Etukudo, who heads the secretariat of the first road running event in West Africa to be granted an IAAF label status, announced at the weekend the coming on board of the two heavyweight companies, as preparations continue for a hitch-free race on Saturday in Okpekpe near Auchi, Etsako East local government area of Edo State.
“We are delighted to have on board one of Nigeria’s leading international oil companies, Dan Oil and Petrochemicals Limited and The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments as official partners.
“While Dan Oil, an indigenous Oil and Gas Company will sponsor our women empowerment programme, The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments is coming as our hotel/hospitality partner,” she said.
Etukudo said the Okpekpe Race is not just about athletes running on a smooth, asphalted road constructed by the Edo State government in and around Okpekpe town, she said it would also be used as a platform to promote causes that would benefit the society or draw attention to social vices.
“Since the inaugural edition of the race, we have always had people and organisations who used our platform to promote so many charitable causes.
“On our own, we have also been consistent in empowering women of the community as we know there is no better tool for development that is more effective than empowering our women.
“As the saying goes, when you educate a man, you educate an individual, but when you educate a woman, you are educating an entire family.
“This is why we are happy that Dan Oil and Petrochemicals Limited have accepted to empower not less than 50 women in and around Okpekpe town. The women will be trained and provided tool to work,” said Etukudo.
