Nwanaga, Osisike Commit ₦200,000 to Women’s Events at Athletic Heat Anniversary Meet
Oru Leonard
Nigeria’s national record holder in women’s javelin, Kelechi Nwanaga, and UTEP Miners athlete Esther Osisike have pledged a combined ₦200,000 to support women’s throwing events at the 10th Anniversary Meet of Athletic Heat.
The two athletes have committed ₦100,000 each to the women’s javelin and discus competitions, respectively, as part of efforts to reward outstanding performances and encourage participation in domestic athletics.
Under the sponsorship arrangement, the winners of both events will receive ₦50,000 each, while second and third-place finishers will earn ₦30,000 and ₦20,000, respectively.
The anniversary competition is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Lagos.
Nwanaga, who holds Nigeria’s national record in women’s javelin with a throw of 58.15 metres, recorded in Ozoro in July 2017, is backing her specialist event.
Her impressive career includes gold medals at the 2015 African Games and 2018 African Championships, as well as a successful defence of her African Games title in 2019. She also won silver at the 2015 African Junior Championships and finished sixth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Similarly, Osisike, who has established herself in collegiate athletics in the United States with the UTEP Miners, is sponsoring the women’s discus event.
Osisike enjoyed a remarkable 2025 outdoor season, winning the Conference USA discus title with a personal-best throw of 56.22 metres, a performance that earned her qualification for the NCAA West First Round.
She also demonstrated her versatility by winning the shot put and discus events at the Desert Heat Classic and Sun City Classic.
Her sponsorship of the women’s discus at the Lagos competition represents an effort to support the development of athletics at home while encouraging emerging Nigerian throwers.
Reacting to the contributions, Athletic Heat Chief Executive Officer, Ese Oguma, welcomed the initiative and commended both athletes for investing in the anniversary competition.
Oguma emphasised the importance of athletes, particularly established competitors, supporting domestic competitions that provide opportunities for upcoming talents to showcase their abilities, improve their performances and gain recognition.
The financial commitments by Nwanaga and Osisike add to the attractions of the 10th Anniversary Meet, which will feature various track and field events.
Their contributions also underscore the growing importance of athlete-led sponsorship in strengthening domestic athletics and creating additional incentives for competitors.
With cash prizes now attached to the women’s javelin and discus, participants at the November 7 competition will have additional motivation to deliver impressive performances as Athletic Heat celebrates a decade of promoting athletics.
