Ecobank Nigeria Limited, an affiliate of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the leading financial services group in sub-Saharan Africa has announced its partnership with Pamodzi Sports Marketing as the official sponsor of 2017 Okpekpe International 10 km Road Race slated for May 13 in Edo State.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) confirmed May 13, 2017 for the fifth edition of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race.
The 2017 Okpekpe International 10 km Road Race is the only IAAF Label Road Race in Africa listed in the January to June calendar of road races released by the IAAF. Also AIMS listed the race as the only one in Nigeria whose course has been by an IAAF/AIMS accredited measurer.
This edition has introduced an event app developed by Mylaps of Netherlands with download on Apple and Android devices – registration and other activities pertaining to the race is done through the app.
In his comment, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Mr Charles Kie said Ecobank Bank identifies sports as fulcrum and key component of rapid financial integration and economic development of the Africa continent. He maintains that the Bank is well positioned to partner sporting events with regional appeal that create opportunities for African youths to converged on healthy and competitive basis.
According to Mr Kie “the Okpekpe Road Race is now synonymous with Ecobank. We are supporting this championship for the fourth year running. It is one of our several ways of supporting sports development. We are impressed and excited with the participation of both local and international athletes across the continent. We will continue to be associated with this mutually beneficial initiative.”
Mr Kie disclosed that Ecobank currently has in place a transformation agenda targeted at becoming one of the top three banks in the country by 2020. For him just like the Okpekpe Road Race that has introduced an enhanced digital app, the Ecobank Mobile app with the power to make and receive payments across 33 African countries.
In his words “Ecobank depends on digital power to deliver real convenience to customers via the mobile phone and internet banking. Customer of the bank can now make instant payments within and across markets with just a few clicks on the Ecobank app; open accounts instantly; make payments at shops using Masterpass QR.
It would be recalled that Ecobank was the Lead sponsor of the 2015 and 2016 editions of the tournaments being organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing. Ecobank Nigeria‘s official sponsor of this year’s International Road Race is in line with the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy.
