Organisers of the Enugu City International Marathon have disclosed plans to expand the road race to other parts of Nigeria, with consultations already underway for possible events in Jos and Kaduna.
The disclosure was made by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Chief Yetunde Olopade, during a World Press Conference in Enugu ahead of the second edition of the Enugu City International Marathon scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Responding to a question on plans to take the marathon to Northern Nigeria, Olopade said Nilayo had already commenced consultations with stakeholders in the North-Central region, particularly in Jos.
She said discussions had progressed to the stage of route calibration in Jos, although some technical issues had affected the process.
According to her, the organisers remain committed to taking major road races to other parts of the country as part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s road-running culture.
Olopade also disclosed that Nilayo recently received an invitation from the Kaduna State Government, opening the way for discussions on hosting a race in the state.
“The good news for me here is that two weeks ago, we got a call from the Kaduna State Government. I think in the next two weeks, we’re going to really go into Kaduna to have a sit-down consultation with the government,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the discussions would produce concrete plans before the end of the year, with the possibility of staging an event in the region by the first quarter of 2027.
Olopade’s disclosure signals Nilayo’s broader ambition to develop a network of major city road races across Nigeria, building on its experience managing prominent events including the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon and other road races.
Nilayo Sports Management is the organiser and management company behind the Enugu City International Marathon, which is endorsed by the Enugu State Government. The official marathon website identifies Nilayo as the event’s management company and confirms that the 2026 edition will feature a 42-kilometre marathon and a 10-kilometre road race, both finishing at Okpara Square.
Also speaking during the conference, another representative of the organisers stressed the importance of media coverage and private-sector sponsorship in expanding road races across Nigeria.
She said organisers could not rely solely on government to finance and host races, urging sports journalists to continue highlighting the economic, tourism, health and sporting benefits associated with major road races.
She explained that increased media visibility would help potential sponsors understand the value of investing in road-running events and encourage more companies to support races across the country.
The representative said the media had an important role to play in demonstrating that road races could generate significant value for sponsors, athletes, host communities and the wider economy.
The expansion plans come as Enugu prepares to host the second edition of the Enugu City International Marathon on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The 42-kilometre elite race is scheduled to start at 6:30 a.m. from ShopRite on Abakaliki Road, while the 10-kilometre race will commence later in the morning from the Chris Tee area on CIC Road, with both races finishing at Okpara Square.
The event, organised under the theme “Tomorrow Runs Here,” is expected to attract elite international athletes, Nigerian runners, fitness enthusiasts and spectators, while also promoting tourism, healthy living, youth engagement and economic activity in Enugu.
With consultations for Jos and Kaduna gathering momentum, Nilayo’s expansion strategy could mark another significant step towards establishing a stronger national road-running circuit and giving athletes across Nigeria more opportunities to compete in professionally organised city races.Source check: Nilayo’s official profile identifies Chief Yetunde Olopade as Managing Director/CEO, while recent coverage confirms her role and her involvement in preparations for the Enugu marathon.
