Athletic Heat CEO Ese Oguma Welcomes Athletes’ Investment as Nwanaga, Osisike Pledge ₦200,000 for Anniversary Meet

Athletic Heat Chief Executive Officer, Ese Oguma has welcomed financial contributions from Nigerian athletics stars, Kelechi Nwanaga and Esther Osisike, who have pledged a combined ₦200,000 in prize money for the women’s throwing events at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet.

Nwanaga, Nigeria’s women’s javelin national record holder, is sponsoring the women’s javelin event, while Osisike, a standout thrower with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners, is backing the women’s discus. Each athlete has committed ₦100,000 to reward the top three finishers in her respective discipline.

The development was announced in a press statement signed by Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman of the Media Committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Under the prize structure, winners in both events will receive ₦50,000, with the second-place finishers earning ₦30,000 and third-place finishers taking home ₦20,000.

The sponsorships provide additional incentives for competitors ahead of the anniversary meet, scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.

…Nwanaga backs women’s javelin

Nwanaga’s support for the women’s javelin reflects her commitment to an event in which she has established herself as one of Nigeria’s leading athletes.

The former UMBC Retrievers and Florida State Seminoles athlete won silver at the 2015 African Junior Championships before claiming gold at the 2015 African Games.

She subsequently finished fourth at the 2016 African Championships and sixth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She won the African Championships title in 2018 and successfully defended her African Games crown in 2019.

Nwanaga’s personal best of 58.15 metres, recorded in Ozoro in July 2017, remains the Nigerian national record in the women’s javelin.

Her sponsorship will give competitors at the Athletic Heat anniversary meet an opportunity to earn financial rewards while showcasing their talent on the domestic athletics circuit.

…Osisike invests in women’s discus

Osisike is directing her contribution towards the women’s discus, extending her support to athletes competing in Nigeria while continuing her development in collegiate athletics in the United States.

She enjoyed an impressive 2025 outdoor season, winning the Conference USA discus title with a personal-best throw of 56.22 metres. The performance also earned her qualification for the NCAA West First Round.

Osisike further demonstrated her versatility by winning both the shot put and discus events at the Desert Heat Classic and Sun City Classic.

She also recorded a personal best of 55.27 metres in the hammer throw at the Don Kirby Tailwind Twilight and a shot put best of 15.13 metres at the Beach Invite.

Her progress dates back to her freshman season in 2024, when she qualified for the NCAA West First Round in the discus and earned All-Conference USA Second Team honours. She also claimed silver in the discus at the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 49.85 metres.

By sponsoring the women’s discus at the Lagos competition, Osisike is helping create additional opportunities and incentives for athletes competing on home soil.

…Oguma hails athletes’ support

Welcoming the contributions, Athletic Heat CEO Ese Oguma expressed appreciation to both athletes for investing in the anniversary meet and supporting the growth of athletics in Nigeria.

Oguma highlighted the importance of athletes giving back to the sport by supporting competitions that provide platforms for emerging and established talents to compete, improve their performances and gain recognition.

The contributions from Nwanaga and Osisike underscore the potential for athletes to play a more active role in strengthening domestic competitions through sponsorship and financial incentives.

The Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet will feature several track and field disciplines, bringing athletes together in Lagos to celebrate a decade of the organisation’s contribution to athletics.

With cash prizes now available in the women’s javelin and discus, the two throwing events are expected to attract added interest as competitors vie for both podium finishes and financial rewards.