Lagos committed to nurturing athletes — Sanwo-Olu
…Ezra Kering, Dinke Meleka emerge champions The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to nurturing homegrown athletes through sustained investment in sports development, as Kenyan runner Ezra Kering and
…Ezra Kering, Dinke Meleka emerge champions
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to nurturing homegrown athletes through sustained investment in sports development, as Kenyan runner Ezra Kering and Ethiopian Dinke Meleka emerged winners of the 2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
The 11th edition of the race featured a new course that ran through the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road corridor and finished at Eko Atlantic City, further projecting Lagos as a global sports and tourism destination.
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his remarks, said the state had adopted a long-term strategy focused on youth development through sports, rather than relying on imported talent.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu said the government was committed to training athletes from the grassroots to compete favourably on the global stage.
“The focus of the state is to nurture homegrown athletes through deliberate investment in youth development, instead of shopping for ready-made talents,” he said.
He noted that the Lagos City Marathon currently enjoys a World Athletics Gold Label status, adding that the state was working towards attaining the Platinum Label, the highest global ranking for road races.
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The governor urged Nigerian youths to move from being “complainants” to active “participants,” encouraging them to take responsibility for their personal growth by embracing sports and other productive ventures.
Also speaking, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the marathon provided a platform for Lagos to showcase Nigeria’s efforts at advancing infrastructure and hosting world-class sporting events.
According to him, the global attention drawn by the race underscores Lagos’ capacity to combine sports, tourism, and urban development.
In the men’s category, Ezra Kering clinched the title with a winning time of 2:11:55, earning the $50,000 prize money.
Ethiopia’s Dinke Meleka emerged champion in the women’s race after crossing the finish line in 2:37:36.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has continued to attract athletes from across the world, reinforcing Lagos’ ambition to become Africa’s leading hub for international road races.
