Godfred, Emeka Splash ₦700,000 on Athletic Heat Anniversary Meet
Oru Leonard
Nigerian athletics stars Charles Godfred and Ugwu Emeka have thrown their weight behind the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet in Lagos with a combined sponsorship of ₦700,000 for the men’s long jump and hammer throw competitions.
Godfred, an African U20 champion, two-time Nigerian national champion and Big Ten champion, has committed ₦500,000 to the men’s long jump event, while Emeka, an NCAA All-American shot putter, has pledged ₦200,000 to support the men’s hammer throw competition, which will be named the Ugwu Emeka Hammer Throw in his honour.
Under the sponsorship arrangement, the eight best performers in the men’s long jump will receive financial rewards, while the top four finishers in the hammer throw will earn ₦100,000, ₦50,000, ₦30,000 and ₦20,000, respectively.
Explaining the motivation behind his contribution, Godfred, who competes for the University of Minnesota, said athletics had played a transformative role in his life, giving him a sense of purpose and creating opportunities he had never imagined.
The Nigerian star noted that his sponsorship was aimed at helping young athletes benefit from similar opportunities through participation in athletics.
For Emeka, a junior athlete at the University of Pittsburgh, the initiative represents an opportunity to give back to Nigeria’s throwing community and inspire upcoming athletes. He explained that although the hammer throw is not his primary event, he considers supporting the development of emerging talents an important responsibility.
Chief Executive Officer of Athletic Heat, Ese Oguma, commended both athletes for their contributions, describing their support as a significant boost to the anniversary competition.
Oguma noted that the financial incentives would encourage greater participation, motivate athletes to improve their performances and draw more attention to field events within Nigerian athletics.
The Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.
The competition will mark a decade of Athletic Heat’s contribution to athletics development, providing a platform for athletes to demonstrate their abilities and prepare for future competitions, including the National Sports Festival.
Athletes who are yet to register for the meet have been urged to complete the process through A3 Tickets ahead of the competition.
(Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman, Media Committee, AFN, October 25, 2026)
