The Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management, Mrs Yetunde Olopade, has described the second edition of the Enugu City International Marathon as a world-class event, commending the Enugu State Government, athletes, sponsors, technical officials, security agencies and other stakeholders for contributing to its successful delivery.
Olopade gave the assessment on Saturday after thousands of runners and spectators converged on the streets of Enugu for the second edition of the international marathon, which featured the elite 42-kilometre race and a mass-participation 10-kilometre event.
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She particularly commended the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah and the Enugu State Government for providing the support and institutional backing required to stage an event of international standard.
According to her, the success of the marathon demonstrated what could be achieved when government, the private sector, athletes, technical officials and the wider community worked together towards a common objective.
“Enugu has set the standard. From athlete welfare to security and crowd management, this marathon has shown that Nigeria can host international label races,” Olopade said.
She congratulated the state government and all the athletes who participated in the competition, saying their collective effort had helped strengthen the reputation of the Enugu City International Marathon.
She also praised the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for its technical support, noting the importance of having experienced athletics professionals involved in ensuring that the race meets the required technical standards.
The CEO also acknowledged the contribution of the Local Organising Committee, whose members worked behind the scenes to coordinate the various components of the event, from athlete preparation and route management to logistics and race-day operations.
The success of the marathon, she said, was equally dependent on the commitment of the security agencies, traffic management personnel and medical teams who were deployed along the routes to protect athletes and spectators.
Olopade commended the medical personnel for providing coverage throughout the race, while recognising the role of volunteers and other support personnel whose efforts helped create a safe environment for participants.
She also expressed appreciation to the official sponsors, particularly 7UP through Aquafina, Afia TV, Pinnacle, Power Oil and Enugu Air, for supporting the event and contributing to its growth.
According to her, sustained private-sector support remains crucial to developing major sporting events capable of attracting international athletes and audiences to Nigeria.
The second edition attracted more than 3,000 participants across the 42km and 10km races, with water stations positioned along the routes, medical services provided and entertainment organised at the finish area.
The elite marathon also produced strong international competition, with Kenya’s Edwin Kipyego winning the men’s 42km race in 2:20:38, while Ethiopia’s Zenebe Aberu emerged victorious in the women’s category.
Nigerian athletes also gave the home crowd reason to celebrate, as Gang James Boyi won the men’s 10km race in 29:59, while Obadih Vivian claimed the women’s 10km title in 35:13.09.
Olopade congratulated the winners and all participants, saying the performances demonstrated the growing potential of road running in Nigeria.
Beyond the competition itself, she said the marathon provided an opportunity for Enugu to showcase its hospitality, organisational capacity and readiness to welcome visitors from different parts of the world.
The event also attracted significant public participation, with residents turning out along the race routes to cheer the athletes and contribute to the atmosphere surrounding the competition.
Olopade’s assessment places the 2026 edition as an important milestone in Nilayo Sports Management’s partnership with Enugu State and in the broader development of road racing in Nigeria.
With the state already looking towards the 2027 edition and plans for an even bigger event expected, the successful staging of the second edition has raised expectations for the future of the Enugu City International Marathon.
For Olopade, the achievement is the result of a collective effort involving government, athletes, technical officials, sponsors, security personnel, medical teams, volunteers and the people of Enugu.
“Congratulations to Enugu State and the winners,” she said.
The message from the Nilayo chief executive was therefore not only a verdict on Saturday’s race, but also an acknowledgment of everyone whose contribution helped transform the streets of Enugu into a stage for one of Nigeria’s emerging international road-running events.
