Continental Running Stakeholders Converge in Nigeria as Global Athletics Leaders Storm Lagos for Africa Running Summit

Nigeria will take centre stage in continental road running this week as Lagos hosts the Africa Running Conference 2026, a two-day gathering aimed at redefining the future of running and mass participation sports across Africa.

The event, organised under the auspices of World Athletics in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, will hold on Thursday, February 12 (workshops) and Friday, February 13 (main conference), ahead of the 2026 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon scheduled for February 14.

With the theme, “Reshaping Running and Mass Participation in Africa: Embracing the Global Community,” the conference is expected to draw key stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, including administrators, race organisers, corporate sponsors and global athletics leaders.

A distinguished lineup of speakers has been confirmed, headlined by Kenyan legend Paul Tergat, a former marathon world record holder and ambassador of the Africa Running Conference. Others include 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.

Nigeria will also be strongly represented at the event, with Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade; Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Managing Director/CEO of Premium Trust Bank Plc, Dr Emmanuel Efe Emienim; and General Coordinator of the Lagos Marathon, Tayo Popoola, all scheduled to speak.

Also on the programme are Nadeem Khan, President of the International Association of Ultra Runners, and Chris Robb, Founder and CEO of RunThrough and Mass Participation World.

Organisers say the conference will feature technical workshops, high-level panel discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions focused on strengthening race organisation, expanding grassroots participation and aligning African road running with global best practices.

With Lagos already established as a major marathon destination in Africa, courtesy of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, the Africa Running Conference 2026 is expected to consolidate Nigeria’s leadership role in the development of mass participation sports on the continent.

Stakeholders believe the gathering will serve as a landmark platform for shaping the next phase of running development in Africa, fostering sustainability, innovation and stronger global integration for the sport.

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