By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2026 (NAN) Nigeria will take centre stage in African road running as Lagos State hosts the Africa Running Conference 2026, a two-day continental gathering designed to reshape the future of running and mass participation sports across Africa.
The conference, organised under the auspices of World Athletics in collaboration with the National Sport Commission, will hold on Thursday, February 12 (Workshops) and Friday, February 13, 2026 (Conference), ahead of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon scheduled for February 14, 2026.
With the theme “Reshaping Running and Mass Participation in Africa: Embracing the Global Community,” the conference will bring together leading voices from global and African athletics, sports governance, finance, and mass participation platforms to discuss sustainability, innovation and growth in road running.
A distinguished lineup of speakers has been confirmed for the event, including Dr. Paul Tergat, former marathon world record holder, Kenyan Olympic legend and Africa Running Conference Ambassador; 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.
Also scheduled to speak are Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission; Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc; Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emienim, Managing Director and 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, Founder and CEO of RunThrough and Mass Participation World.
The Africa Running Conference will feature technical workshops, high-level panel discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at strengthening race organisation, expanding grassroots participation and aligning African road running with global best practices.
With stakeholders from across the continent and beyond expected to attend, the Africa Running Conference 2026 promises to be a landmark platform for shaping the next phase of running development in Africa.(NAN)
