Olympic gold medallist, Enefiok Udo-Obong, has fulfilled his cash promise to Nigeria’s emerging talents, rewarding 17-year-old Iyanuoluwa Aderemi with N500,000 for her sensational run in the women’s 400m.
Aderemi stormed to a new personal best of 50.95 seconds at the 2026 Dynamic Athletics Meet held at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Lagos, smashing the 51.80 seconds target set by Udo-Obong for the cash incentive.
The Akoko, Ondo State-born quarter-miler produced one of the standout performances of the third edition of the meet, announcing herself as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects in the women’s 400m.
Udo-Obong had pledged N500,000 each to the male and female winners of the 400m who met the standards of 45.50s and 51.80s respectively.
Having met the mark in emphatic fashion, Aderemi was presented with her cheque on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Speaking at the presentation, Udo-Obong, a member of Nigeria’s gold-winning 4x400m relay team at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, urged the teenager to see the feat as a starting point and not a destination as she builds towards the 2027 season.
He also called on stakeholders in Nigerian athletics to rally around promising athletes like Aderemi to help them fulfil their potential at the highest level.
The presentation was witnessed by the Founder/CEO of Dynamic Athletics Meet, Olabanji Ayegbusi, Aderemi’s coach Adeleye Ogunmakinju, veteran coach and former national head coach Armelia Edet, Lagos State Athletics Performance Director Abiodun Ibrahim and Lagos State athletics coach Bamise Emmanuel.
Udo-Obong, who is currently Technical Adviser to the Saudi Arabia Athletics Federation, has continued to contribute to athletics development since retirement. He served as Technical Director at the African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta and at the Niger Delta Games in Benin City earlier this year.
Launched in 2024, the Dynamic Athletics Meet has grown into a vital platform giving young and established athletes the opportunity to compete and gain exposure.
For Aderemi, Wednesday’s reward marks another high point in a breakthrough season, with her 50.95s run at 17 putting her firmly on the radar as Nigeria’s next big quarter-mile hope.
