Ugwoke Pledges ₦575,000 Prize Money for Athletic Heat Anniversary Discus Event

Oru Leonard

Nigeria’s leading discus thrower, Ebubechukwu Vincent Ugwoke, has committed ₦575,000 to sponsor the men’s discus throw event at the 10th anniversary edition of the Athletic Heat Meet, in a move aimed at encouraging athletes and supporting grassroots sports development.

The competition is scheduled to take place on November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.

The sponsorship will provide financial rewards for the top four finishers in the event, with the winner receiving ₦250,000, while the second-place athlete will earn ₦150,000. The third and fourth-placed competitors will receive ₦100,000 and ₦75,000, respectively.

Ugwoke, a two-time national champion, recently recorded a significant achievement on the international stage when he won bronze in the men’s discus throw at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a lifetime personal best of 63.89 metres.

The performance also ranked him as Africa’s second-best discus thrower in 2026.

The University of Southern California (USC) athlete’s latest initiative reflects his commitment to giving back to the sport and encouraging greater involvement by individuals and private-sector stakeholders in the development of Nigerian athletics.

Chief Executive Officer of Athletic Heat, Ese Oguma, expressed appreciation for the sponsorship, particularly Ugwoke’s decision to ensure that the fourth-place finisher also receives a meaningful financial reward.

Oguma explained that Ugwoke specifically requested that the prize for fourth place should match Nigeria’s minimum wage of ₦75,000, ensuring that more athletes benefit from the competition.

“I am thankful to Ebubechukwu for his support. One thing he told me was that he wanted even the fourth-place finisher to go home with an amount equivalent to Nigeria’s minimum wage, which is ₦75,000.

“I’m immensely grateful for this, as it will boost the athletes competing to put in their very best,” Oguma said.

The sponsorship is expected to strengthen the competitive atmosphere at the anniversary meet while demonstrating how accomplished athletes can contribute to the development of emerging talents by investing in competitions and creating additional incentives.

The 10th anniversary edition will mark a decade of Athletic Heat’s activities and provide athletes with an opportunity to showcase their abilities, improve their performances and compete for financial rewards.

The competition is also expected to serve as an important preparatory platform for athletes gearing up for the National Sports Festival.

Ugwoke has encouraged athletes to register for the competition and make the most of the opportunity, while wishing all participants success in their respective events.

Registration is currently open through A3tickets.com, with interested athletes required to complete the process before the October 24, 2026 deadline.

(Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman, Media Committee, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)

October 18, 2026