Nigeria is set to take the spotlight in African road running as Lagos prepares to host the 2026 Africa Running Conference, a two-day continental gathering aimed at redefining the future of running and mass participation sports across the continent.
The conference, organised by World Athletics in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, for technical workshops, and Friday, February 13, 2026, for the main conference. The event will serve as a prelude to the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon billed for February 14.
With the theme, “Reshaping Running and Mass Participation in Africa: Embracing the Global Community,” the conference will assemble key stakeholders from global and African athletics, sports administration, finance, and mass participation platforms to deliberate on sustainability, innovation, and the growth of road running.
Among the high-profile speakers confirmed for the event are former marathon world record holder and Kenyan Olympic icon, Dr. Paul Tergat, who also serves as the Africa Running Conference Ambassador; World Athletics Head of Running, Alessio Punzi; Vice President of Athletics Kenya, Fatma Abdal Amale; and World Athletics Vice President and Athletics Kenya President, Jackson Tuwei.
Nigeria will also be well represented with the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade; Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Managing Director/CEO of Premium Trust Bank Plc, Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emienim; General Coordinator of the Lagos Marathon, Tayo Popoola; President of the International Association of Ultra Runners, Nadeem Khan; and Founder/CEO of RunThrough and Mass Participation World, Chris Robb.
The conference will feature technical workshops, panel discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions designed to strengthen race organisation, boost grassroots participation, and align African road running with global standards.
With participants expected from across Africa and beyond, the Africa Running Conference 2026 is poised to become a landmark event that will help shape the next phase of running development on the continent.
