Organisers of the sixth IAAF Silver Label Okpekpe international 10km road race is set to unveil the theme song for this
year’s race.
The theme song, according to Dare Esan, the spokesman for the race is composed by the ravishigly beautiful and multi-talented
Sefiya Ibrahim,an Abia state-born singer-cum-songwriter who is a Computer Science graduate from the great University of Lagos
and also a certified graduate of the prestigious Nigerian Muson School of Music where she majored in music dynamics and vocal
training hence her vocal prowess.
‘Last year we tested the waters with the introduction of a theme song for the race and we saw how the people,especially those
at the race venue embraced it.This time and with the elevation of the race to a silver label status,we felt the need to
improve on what we had last year and make it available for people outside those that will be at the race course to listen to
it.  It will also accompany the live coverage of the race such that those watching anywhere around the world will not only be
watching the best of African and World long distance runners in action at the hilly and rustic Okpekpe town but also savour
the experience with a song that is original and made for the race,’said Esan who explained the role of music in enhancing
performance not only of the runners but also those working off the race.
Sports and music have long been closely intertwined and audio entertainment has become a core part of the fan experience,
sometimes moreso than the action on the race course.
According to Esan, reserach has shown that music that is upbeat in tempo and stimulating, enhances exercise performance and is
also found to lower feelings of sluggishness and fatigue.
”Athletes often use motivational music to increase their level of arousal before a race or competition, getting their body
moving and the blood flowing,”he said.
‘We at Okpekpe understand this and we crave for originality instead of playing the popular ‘stand up for the champion’ song
which is developed by others.We are the first to have its race course measured by an IAAF/AIMS accredited measurer, the first
to get an IAAF label status (a bronze),also the first to get a silver label status in West Africa,the first to develop a
tracking application to track athletes participating in a road race,the only one so far to be recognised by AIMS (Association
of International Marathons and Distance Races),the first to introduce Okpekpe,Edo state and Nigeria as an international
sporting destination and now the first to have a theme song for a road race,’said a delighted Esan.
The race holds on Saturday May 12,2018 in Okpekpe, Etsako East local Government Area of Edo State and it is organised by
Pamodzi Sports Marketing, leaders in sports marketing and hospitality business in Nigeria.