The road racing scene in Nigeria received a significant vote of confidence and a major boost with the official flag-off of the Capital City 10km Race.
The event, though staged in Lagos, serves as a powerful symbol of the country’s rapidly growing enthusiasm for long-distance running and was officially inaugurated by the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade.
He hailed the race as “another testament” to the fast-growing culture of road racing in the country.
“I am very excited about the culture of road racing that is fast growing in the country, and the Capital City 10km Race is another testament to this,” Olopade said.
“This is why I am very excited to flag off this event today in Lagos and I must commend the organisers for such a well-organised marathon.”
“I have no doubt that the Capital City 10km Race has the potential to grow even bigger as time goes on and the National Sports Commission will always be there to give it all the support it needs,” he added.
Nigeria is rapidly positioning itself as a key host for large-scale international road racing competitions, establishing itself as a regional hub for the sport.
This is evidenced by the successful staging of several high-profile events such as the Lagos State Marathon, the Ogun Women Run, the Enugu City Marathon, and the Abuja Half Marathon.
These events attract international athletes, boost sports tourism, and provide a world-class platform for Nigerian distance runners to compete.