Lagos Reaffirms Commitment to Grassroots Athlete Development

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to nurturing homegrown athletes as Kenya’s Ezra Kering and Ethiopia’s Dinke Meleka emerged champions at the 2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. The 11th edition of the race introduced a new course along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road corridor, finishing at Eko Atlantic City.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised that the state remains focused on long-term youth development through structured sports programmes. He stressed that Lagos prioritises grassroots athlete training rather than sourcing ready-made talents from outside the system.

The Governor further noted that the marathon currently holds a World Athletics Gold Label status, adding that the state is working toward achieving the prestigious Platinum Label—the highest global classification for road races. He urged Nigerian youths to move from being observers to active participants in shaping their futures through sports and discipline.

Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, stated that the global race also serves as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s infrastructure development and organisational capacity. He described the marathon as both a sporting event and a statement of Lagos’ global competitiveness.

Kenyan runner Ezra Kering won the men’s category with a time of 2:11:55, earning the $50,000 prize, while Ethiopia’s Dinke Meleka clinched the women’s title in 2:37:36. The event once again positioned Lagos as a leading host of international sporting competitions in Africa.