Ahead Of Okpekpe Race: Commercial Activities Pickup

Few days to the Okpekpe International 10 kilometres road race, commercial activities in the community and its environs has picked up.

In Auchi, most of hotels that will host the athletes, officials and other guests for the one-day event are wearing a new look, while others are expanding their facilities to accommodate more guests. Also, makeshift stores are being erected along the race route.

Already, the roads leading to the mountainous town of Okpekpe are now busy with athletes from neigbouring states training hard for the race.

Some athletes said they started training early in order to be in shape not just to win the state prize, but the star prize of $20,000.

Okpekpe Road Race: Monarch Urges Investment In Tourism

His Royal Highness (HRH) Apa Peter Osigbemeh, Onwueweko of Okpekpe kingdom yesterday called on investors to take advantage of the thriving 10 kilometres road race in the community to invest in guesthouse accommodations
and tourism.

Since the maiden edition of the Okpekpe 10 kilometres Road Race brought the community into the limelight in 2013, it has not ceased being in the news.

Stories about the community have become legendary that tourists from far and near come there for site seeing . Some come on a mission to confirm whether Okpekpe is a myth or a living legendary home to people.

Osigbemeh noted that although all investors have the opportunity to invest in hotel accommodations in Okpekpe, the pioneer investors will make a fortune from the retinue of visitors.

His words: “I am very grateful to the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Mike Itemuagbor, who have lifted Okpekpe to prominence with the this annual road race.

“However, from the previous tournaments, it is obvious that travelers that come during and after the event would have loved to spend longer time in my kingdom end leaving in a hurry due to them lack of hotel accommadtions.

I want to assure investors that if they invest in hotel accommodations and tourism in Okpekpe they will make appreciable profit from the risk.”

Speaking further monarch said: “Expectedly it is boosting tourism in the community, but the Okpekpe 10 kilometres race is yet to give my community the much awaited commercial advantage owing to the absence of hotels in Okpekpe. By and large, Okpekpe 10 kilometres race has enriched hoteliers in Auchi and its environs.”

Osigbemeh also said that since the institution of the road race, it has been attracting national and international competitors.

According to him, it has placed the kingdom on the international map, finally the monarch said that “Okpekpe 10km race has also exposed the community hitherto unheard of before to tremendous publicity.”