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Nigeria’s leading discus thrower, Ebubechukwu Vincent Ugwoke, has sponsored the men’s discus event at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet with a prize purse of ₦575,000.
The meet is scheduled for November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Lagos.
Ugwoke, two-time national champion and bronze medallist at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a personal best of 63.89m, is currently Africa’s second-best discus thrower this year. The University of Southern California (USC) athlete said the gesture is aimed at encouraging private support for grassroots athletics.
Under the sponsorship, winner of the men’s discus will receive ₦250,000, second place ₦150,000, third place ₦100,000, while fourth place will get ₦75,000.
Athletic Heat Chief Executive Officer, Ese Oguma, lauded Ugwoke’s decision to extend prize money to fourth place, noting that the athlete insisted the fourth-place finisher should go home with an amount equivalent to Nigeria’s minimum wage.
“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,” Oguma said.
The anniversary meet will celebrate Athletic Heat’s 10-year journey and also serve as preparation for athletes ahead of the National Sports Festival.
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