The founder and CEO of the Athletics Heat, Ese Oguma, says his passion for athletics and desire to create more competitive opportunities for Nigerian athletes inspired him to establish the event, which has grown into a platform for celebrating athletic excellence.
Speaking on the motivation behind the initiative as the competition marked its 10th anniversary on Saturday in Lagos, Oguma said the original idea was to provide athletes with an opportunity to compete ahead of the National Sports Festival.
According to him, the vision has since evolved beyond competition to include recognising outstanding performances, celebrating athletes and creating greater visibility for Nigerian athletics.
“I really just wanted to give a platform for athletes to compete before the National Sports Festival. That was why I put this event in November. That was the idea,” he explained.
He added that the 10th anniversary was also an opportunity to celebrate a decade of commitment to Nigerian athletics, recognise remarkable achievements and strengthen his personal brand.
The motivation for Ese Oguma runs much deeper than organising an annual competition.
“Having been an athlete himself, he said his personal experience in the sport has shaped his desire to create opportunities for others and help Nigerian talents gain recognition on the global stage.”
“First of all, I’m an athlete. So my own idea is just to celebrate athletes and put them on the world stage as much as I can,” he said.
He also challenged individuals and organisations with the resources to invest in sports development, stressing that meaningful contributions to society go beyond financial capacity and require the right mindset.
He expressed hope that the Athletics Heat Meet’s journey would inspire more people to identify opportunities to support athletes and contribute to the growth of Nigerian sports.
On the relationship with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the founder described the federation’s support as encouraging and consistent, noting that official approval of the competition has been an important part of its development.
“Having this event, first of all, has to be approved by Athletics and also the event. So that alone was a great support for us, and I think that support is consistent,” he stated.
Looking ahead, he called on corporate organisations to invest more in athletics, arguing that Nigerian athletes possess enormous talent that deserves greater recognition, financial rewards and institutional support.
His appeal comes at a time when the conversation around funding grassroots and elite athletics in Nigeria continues to gain importance, particularly as athletes seek more opportunities to compete, improve their performances and build sustainable careers.
The founder believes that the responsibility for developing athletics should not rest solely on government and sports federations, insisting that corporate Nigeria also has a significant role to play.
“These are great talents that need to be recognised, and we need more money and more corporate sponsors for us, definitely,” he said.
Now in its 10th year, the Athletics Heat Meet represents a decade-long commitment to providing competitive opportunities, celebrating athletic achievements and keeping Nigerian athletes in the spotlight.
Beyond the medals and prize money, Ese Oguma hopes the biggest legacy will be a culture where more individuals and organisations recognise the value of investing in athletes and the future of Nigerian athletics.
