Nigeria’s national record holders Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi and Kelechi Nwanaga, alongside UTEP Miners standout Esther Osisike, have committed a combined ₦750,000 in prize money to three throwing events at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet scheduled for November 7 in Lagos.
Nnamdi has pledged ₦550,000 for the men’s javelin, while Nwanaga and Osisike have each committed ₦100,000 to the women’s javelin and discus respectively, providing additional financial incentives for competitors at the anniversary competition.
The contributions highlight the growing involvement of accomplished Nigerian athletes in supporting domestic athletics and creating opportunities for emerging talents.
Nnamdi Leads with ₦550,000 Men’s Javelin Sponsorship
Nnamdi, Nigeria’s men’s javelin national record holder and Paris 2024 Olympian, is backing the men’s javelin event, with his ₦550,000 contribution set to reward the top eight finishers.
The national record holder, who established a new mark of 84.68 metres at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida on April 17, 2026, has enjoyed considerable success on the international stage.
He won bronze at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, gold at the 2023 African Games in Accra and silver at the 2024 African Athletics Championships in Douala before representing Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
His sponsorship will see the winner receive ₦200,000, while the second and third-place finishers will earn ₦100,000 and ₦75,000 respectively.
Athletes finishing fourth to eighth will also receive financial rewards, with ₦50,000 allocated to fourth place, ₦40,000 to fifth, ₦35,000 to sixth, ₦30,000 to seventh and ₦20,000 to eighth.
**Nwanaga, Osisike Back Women’s Throwing Events**
In the women’s events, national record holder Kelechi Nwanaga and UTEP Miners standout Esther Osisike have each pledged ₦100,000.
Nwanaga is sponsoring the women’s javelin, while Osisike is supporting the women’s discus, with both contributions covering the top three finishers.
Winners in both disciplines will receive ₦50,000, while runners-up will take home ₦30,000 and third-place finishers ₦20,000.
Nwanaga, whose personal best of 58.15 metres remains Nigeria’s national record in the women’s javelin, is a former African champion and African Games gold medallist.
She won silver at the 2015 African Junior Championships before claiming gold at the 2015 African Games. She subsequently won the 2018 African Championships title and successfully defended her African Games crown in 2019.
Osisike, meanwhile, has continued to make significant progress in American collegiate athletics.
The UTEP athlete won the 2025 Conference USA discus title with a personal-best throw of 56.22 metres, securing qualification for the NCAA West First Round.
Her contribution to the Lagos competition extends her support beyond collegiate athletics, providing additional incentives for Nigerian athletes competing at home.
Oguma Welcomes Athletes’ Investment
Athletic Heat CEO Eseroghene Oguma has welcomed the contributions, expressing appreciation to the three athletes for investing in the anniversary competition.
Oguma emphasised the importance of support from established athletes and members of the athletics community in strengthening domestic competitions, rewarding performances and inspiring emerging talents.
The Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet will take place on Saturday, November 7, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.
The competition marks a decade of Athletic Heat’s contribution to Nigerian athletics, bringing together athletes across several track and field disciplines.
With ₦750,000 committed to the men’s javelin, women’s javelin and women’s discus, the sponsorship initiative adds another dimension to the anniversary meet while highlighting the potential of athlete-led investment in the development of Nigerian athletics.
