Nigeria will host the first Africa Running Conference in Lagos, a multiday event designed to bring together athletics officials, race organisers, coaches, elite and recreational runners, and sports business stakeholders from across the continent. The conference will focus on topics such as road race organisation, athlete welfare, anti-doping, sponsorship, event technology and inclusive participation.
Organisers say the Lagos edition aims to place West Africa firmly on the continental running map, share best practices for staging city marathons and road races, and attract investment into race tourism. Sessions will include technical workshops, panels with leading race directors, exhibition spaces for sport tech companies, and networking fora for federations and commercial partners.
The conference is expected to boost local organisers’ capacity and foster cross-border collaborations, while providing a platform for African race brands to promote events on a larger scale. Lagos officials welcomed the event as an opportunity to showcase the city’s capacity to host international sports gatherings and to stimulate the local sports economy.
