World Athletics (WA) has revealed that Lagos, Nigeria’s vibrant commercial capital, was selected to host the first-ever Africa Road Running Conference due to its extensive trade networks spanning across Africa and internationally.
During a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Mr. Alessio Punzi Cisternino, WA’s head of road running, shared insights about the upcoming conference planned for next year in Lagos, ahead of the 2026 Lagos City Marathon. He emphasized the strategic choice of Lagos as the venue.
Cisternino described the Road Running Conference as a distinctive platform designed to boost the profile of Nigerian athletes. “This two-day workshop is a special event, and Lagos was chosen because it stands as one of Africa’s foremost economic hubs. The conference will open doors and provide significant exposure for Nigerian runners,” he explained.
Malam Shehu Dikko, chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), expressed enthusiasm about hosting the inaugural conference, highlighting its alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to integrate sports into the country’s economic framework.
“Our prompt acceptance to host this event stems from two key reasons. Primarily, it aligns perfectly with the NSC’s vision and President Tinubu’s ambition to embed sports within Nigeria’s economic development. Hosting global sporting events will help strengthen and financially support our local sports sector,” Dikko stated.
He further pointed out Nigeria’s competitive edge in road racing, noting the sport’s rising popularity in cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, and Enugu. “Thanks to the groundwork laid by the NSC’s Director General, road racing has expanded significantly, with enthusiasm spreading to every state,” he added.
NSC Director General Bukola Olopade hailed the conference as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s sports advancement. “This event marks a new chapter in our sports strategy. With running gaining tremendous momentum across Africa, Nigeria’s selection as host reflects a transition from being mere spectators to becoming active developers of sports infrastructure and talent,” Olopade commented.
Chief Solomon Ogba, who chairs the conference’s organising committee and serves as vice-chairman of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), described the event as a defining moment for African road running. “Africa holds a natural advantage in this discipline, and we intend to capitalize on this by delivering an exceptional conference that will inspire and energize all participants,” he concluded.
