By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Organisers of the annual Okpekpe International Road Race, Pamodzi Sports Marketing, have announced Ecobank Mobile App as the official Banking Service platform for the 2018 edition of the tourney.
Chief executive of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, Mr Mike Itemuagbor, described Ecobank Mobile App as the most suited for the Okpekpe 10km Road Race, being an app used across Africa.
This year’s race is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, 2018 in Okpekpe, Edo State and over 5000 local and international professional athletes are expected at the competition.
According to the chief promoter of the Okpekpe International Road Race, the Ecobank Mobile App will adequately cater for the athletes at the event in addition to the large number of sports enthusiasts and government officials from across the continent.
“The Okpekpe Road Race is a global competition. It is therefore natural we look for a bank with a service platform that has international appeal. This informed our choice of Ecobank Mobile App.
“We have a long partnership with Ecobank based on the bank’s African appeal which best suits our dream to become one of the most sought after long distance races in the world.
“Our athletes come from all over Africa and they have testified that Ecobank products best suit them, enabling them access their funds at any point in time, especially during the competition as they do not need to carry cash or source foreign exchange,” Mr Itemuagbor said.
In his comment, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Charles Kie, stated that Ecobank Mobile App is a game changer for African banking by using digital technology to combat many of the financial inclusion barriers faced by those on the continent.
He said Ecobank’s strategic mission is built around using mobile banking to deliver innovative, efficient and cost-effective services to every African.
“Our app not only removes the barriers that have financially excluded so many Africans but offers next generation functionality to help them send money, make withdrawals or pay for goods and services.
“Customers can use the app on their mobile to instantly open Ecobank Xpress Account, which doesn’t have any account fees, paperwork or minimum balance requirements, or to send and receive money across 33 African countries,” he said.
The Ecobank Mobile App, which was launched in 2016, currently has over 4 million users registered and has consummated over one billion dollars’ transaction value.
The Okpekpe international 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a leader in sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality and Rights Acquisition business in Nigeria in conjunction with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Edo State Government.
Dipo Olowookere 
Aduragbemi Omiyale