- info@thetraffic.ng
- 7 Nasir El Rufai Crescent, Guzape
- Apple honors eight developers with annual Apple Design Awards
- PRESIDENT TINUBU’S MINING REFORMS YIELD SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN REVENUE, $800M FOREIGN INVESTMENT, REVEALS ALAKE
- Shettima Vows Federal Backing for Nigerian Investors: A Billion-Dollar Economy in Sight
- JAMB Raises Bar for Under-16 Admission as 599 Gifted Candidates Score Above 320 in UTME
- CPC Bloc Reaffirms Commitment to APC
- National Sports Commission Convenes Strategic Meeting With Sports Federations’ Presidents and Secretaries
- Nigeria Declares Bitcoin & Other Virtual Assets as Official Securities in Bold New Law
- Osinachi’s Husband Sentenced to Death by Hanging
- Court of Appeal Upholds IPOB’s Terrorist Status – What This Means for Nnamdi Kanu
- IG Orders Arrest Of Cops’ Killers During Abuja Shi’ite Procession
Nigeria is set to host a major gathering of global athletics leaders as the Africa Running Conference 2026 begins Thursday at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, bringing together policymakers, race organisers, and international sports officials to chart the future of road running on the continent.
The two-day conference, themed “Reshaping Running and Mass Participation in Africa: Embracing the Global Community,” opens with a technical workshop on February 12, followed by the main sessions on February 13, ahead of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on February 14.
International guests and top officials from World Athletics began arriving in Lagos earlier this week and were welcomed by Chief Solomon Ogba, Head of the Local Organising Committee, who expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to host a world-class event. He stated, “This conference is a major step toward repositioning road running on the continent. We are grateful to the leadership of the National Sports Commission for their unwavering support in elevating Nigerian sports to global standards.”
The event will convene leaders in athletics, sports governance, finance, and mass participation to discuss sustainability, innovation, and long-term growth strategies for road running in Africa. Confirmed speakers include Dr. Paul Tergat, former marathon world record holder; Alessio Punzi, Head of Running at World Athletics; Fatma Abdal Amale, Vice President of Kenya Athletics; and Jackson Tuwei, Vice President of World Athletics and President of Athletics Kenya.
Other notable participants include Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission; Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, CEO of Access Bank Plc; Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emienim, CEO of Premium Trust Bank Plc; Tayo Popoola, General Coordinator of the Lagos Marathon; Nadeem Khan, President of the International Association of Ultra Runners; and Chris Robb, CEO of RunThrough and Mass Participation World.
READ ALSO: EFCC Witness: Banks Behind 2022 Naira Scarcity
The conference will feature technical workshops, high-level panel discussions, and strategic knowledge-sharing sessions designed to strengthen race organisation, expand grassroots participation, and align African road running with global standards.
Organisers describe the event as a pivotal moment for the sport, providing a platform for stakeholders from across Africa and the world to shape the next phase of running development on the continent.
With the Lagos City Marathon set to follow immediately after, the conference underscores Nigeria’s growing role as a hub for international athletics and highlights efforts to foster a commercially viable, sustainable, and globally competitive running ecosystem in Africa.
