Sports
3,000 Athletes Ready to Battle at Enugu Marathon
Joel Ajayi
Excitement is building in the Coal City as Enugu counts down to the second edition of the Enugu City International Marathon, with more than 3,000 athletes expected to compete on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Organised by Nilayo Sports Management, with the full backing of the Enugu State Government, the marathon has attracted elite runners, grassroots athletes and recreational participants from across Nigeria, Africa and the diaspora.
Giving details of the competition on Wednesday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s leading sports marketing company, Nilayo Sports, Yetunde Olopade, said participants would battle for medals, prize money and bragging rights, while the event is also expected to showcase Enugu as a growing destination for sports and tourism.
Olopade said final preparations are in top gear, with organisers putting finishing touches to the Marathon Expo, which will serve as the official kit collection point for registered runners.
She said the Expo would also feature sponsor activations and form part of a week-long buildup combining sports, music, wellness and business activities ahead of race day.
According to her, the pre-race programme will culminate in the Enugu City International Marathon World Press Conference, scheduled for Thursday, August 28. Organisers, government officials, elite athletes, sponsors and members of the media are expected to attend, with final race details, security arrangements and the full prize structure to be unveiled.
“On race day, the 42km Elite Marathon will be flagged off at 6:30am from ShopRite on Abakaliki Road, while the 10km Fun Run will begin at 8:30am from Chris Tee Petrol Station on CIC Road and finish at Opara Square.
“Security, medical, hydration and traffic management plans have been finalised to ensure a safe and seamless experience for athletes and spectators,” she added.
Registration remains open at www.enugucitymarathon.com.
As August 29 approaches, Enugu is preparing to host a major sporting spectacle that promises to combine athletic excellence with culture, tourism and economic opportunity.
Sports
Folsa School, GSS Kuje, Others Shine at Inaugural AFFAN Abuja Chapter Relay Race
By Joel Ajayi
It was an atmosphere of excitement, enthusiasm and healthy competition as close to 300 schoolgirls from 12 schools across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) participated in the maiden edition of the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN), Abuja Chapter, Inter-Area Council Junior and Senior Secondary Schools Relay Race.
The competition, held on Friday at the Main Bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, provided a platform for young female athletes to showcase their talents, promote grassroots sports development and encourage greater participation of girls in athletics.
The historic event brought together students from various junior and senior secondary schools across the FCT, with participants competing in different track events, including the 100-metre race,4×100-metre relay, 4×400-metre relay and relay competitions for school girls.
Participating junior secondary schools included JSS Kuje, JSS Hajj Camp, JSS Kwali, JSS Abaji, Government Secondary School (GSS) Gwagwalada and Folsa School.
In the senior secondary category, the participating schools were GSS Kuje, GSS Gwagwalada, GSS Kwali, Total Child School, Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Abaji and Folsa School.
In the junior girls’ 100-metre race, David Jimata of GDSS Kwali emerged winner to claim the gold medal, while Mercy Monday of Total Child School settled for silver. Kudirat Abdulaziz finished third to win bronze.
In the senior girls’ 100-metre event, Patricia Habillah of Folsa School claimed gold, while Mojinatu Sulaiman of Total Child School won silver. Youana of GDSS Abaji secured the bronze medal.
The junior girls’ 4×100-metre relay saw JSS Kuje emerge champions, while JSS Hajj Camp, Gwagwalada, finished second. JSS Kwali took third place.
In the senior girls’ 4×100-metre relay, Folsa School clinched the gold medal, while GDSS Abaji secured silver.
The competition also featured the 4×400-metre relay, with GSS Hajj Camp emerging winners in the junior category, ahead of GSS Kuje, who finished second, while Folsa School claimed third place.
In the senior 4×400-metre relay, Folsa School finished first to win gold, while GSS Gwagwalada secured silver and GSS Kuje settled for bronze.
The maiden competition underscored the importance of providing young girls with opportunities to discover and develop their sporting abilities through organised grassroots competitions.
It also offered participating schools an opportunity to identify promising athletes who could be nurtured for future competitions at national and international levels.
The initiative by AFFAN Abuja Chapter is expected to contribute to the development of female athletics in the FCT while inspiring more young girls to embrace sports and pursue their dreams in athletics.
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