The PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon has achieved a historic milestone, earning the prestigious World Athletics Label for its second edition—an unprecedented feat that places Nigeria’s capital city among elite global marathon destinations.

Organized by Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML), the 2025 race is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, under the inspiring theme “Steady Strides.”

The theme reflects both the disciplined rhythm of world-class long-distance running and the steady progress that has defined the marathon’s rapid rise to international acclaim.

This recognition from World Athletics comes in record time, making the Abuja race the fastest marathon globally to secure a World Athletics Label within two editions—a testament to NSML’s organizational excellence and the dynamic partnership with PremiumTrust Bank, widely regarded as Nigeria’s fastest-growing commercial bank.

A Partnership of Vision and Impact

Speaking on the announcement, Yetunde Olopade, Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, described the achievement as “a defining moment for Nigerian road racing.”

Yetunde Olopade, Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited

“This second edition is fundamentally unique because it represents the first-ever true super-partnership on such a dynamic sports property in our nation and arguably, globally,” Olopade said.
“PremiumTrust Bank is not just a sponsor but the sole partner anchoring the establishment, organization, and consolidation of a global marathon in Nigeria’s capital city. We are proud and grateful for the bank’s visionary leadership, which recognized the immense potential of the first edition and is now driving the race toward international acclaim.”

A Legacy of Excellence

For PremiumTrust Bank, the race symbolizes more than sponsorship—it embodies a shared philosophy of growth, excellence, and impact.

“PremiumTrust Bank is built on the philosophy of rapid, impactful, and sustainable growth, and the theme of this year’s marathon perfectly reflects our operational ethos,” said Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim (CON), Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank.

“Attaining World Athletics Label status in just the second year validates that our investment is yielding world-class outcomes. We are deeply proud to be the sole partner building this monumental legacy, reinforcing our commitment to sports development, community wellbeing, excellence, and platforms where champions are made.”

Global Spotlight on Abuja

The 2025 edition is expected to draw elite international athletes, top local runners, and marathon enthusiasts from across the world. Officials from World Athletics will also be in attendance to oversee the competition, ensuring it meets global standards.

With Abuja set to host thousands of runners and spectators, the PremiumTrust Bank Half Marathon promises to be a spectacular celebration of endurance, athleticism, and community spirit, further cementing Nigeria’s place on the global athletics map.

Registration is now open for participants ahead of the eagerly anticipated race day on December 6, 2025.

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The National Sports Commission (NSC), in collaboration with World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), is set to host the inaugural Africa Running Conference in Lagos — a landmark event that underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in the global sports ecosystem.

The conference, designed to promote health, fitness, and athletic excellence, will bring together key stakeholders from across the continent to explore the expanding opportunities in road running and sports-driven economic growth.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko said the event aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming sports into a catalyst for national development.

“This conference is not just about running,” Dikko said. “It reflects our commitment to building a thriving sports economy — one that creates jobs, attracts investment, and enhances Nigeria’s global reputation.”

He noted that the rising popularity of road running across Nigeria signals an untapped potential for economic and social impact. “Every state now wants to be involved,” he added. “That shows the potential for lasting impact.”

NSC Director General Bukola Olopade hailed the partnership with World Athletics as a “milestone moment” for Nigerian sports, emphasizing that it validates the effectiveness of the Tinubu administration’s ongoing sports reforms.

“We’re moving from being a consumption-based sports nation to one that produces and hosts world-class events,” Olopade said.

He further highlighted that World Athletics’ decision to stage the conference in Lagos — ahead of countries like Kenya and South Africa with long-standing marathon traditions — demonstrates growing international confidence in Nigeria’s capacity and reform agenda.

Alessio Punzi, World Athletics’ Head of Running and Mass Participation, described the forthcoming event as “a turning point for African road running,” revealing that it will include technical workshops for athletics federations from across the continent.

“The Lagos conference is about building a full ecosystem — from grassroots participation to elite performance,” Punzi stated.

The Africa Running Conference, the first of its kind, will serve as a platform for collaboration among governments, private sector leaders, and the sporting community. It aims to reinforce Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting health, wellness, and sporting excellence across Africa.

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BY DANLADI BAKO

Sports and indeed global athletics have been the cynosure of quite a huge community of track and field afficionados in the last nine days at the Tokyo World Athletics finals.

The global athletics fraternity congregates annually to celebrate new world beaters and champions.

Athletes spend a large amount of time, energy and resources to train, attracting the best coaches and utilizing some of the high impact facilities in developing qualifying times for their individual events.

So many nations facilitate the upscaling and upgrading of their athletes’ mentality, physique and performance standing through investments in the training and welfare of their high-profile athletes by providing grants, scholarships and appreciable reward systems.

These have been in short supply in Nigeria and indeed within the developing world where the priorities of most governments are education, health, poverty and so many other development challenges.

However, the benefits of investing in sports are unquantifiable especially on the world global diplomatic stage, unassailable visibility and an incredible reputation unachievable in so many other areas of human existence. In the eighties and 90s the Americans literally ruled the sprints with female 100 meters legend Florence Griffiths – Joyner and 400 meters world champion Michael Johnson.

Just like America used the movies to show Americans as the world best, sportsmen like basketball’s Michael Jordan and boxing’s Muhammad Ali put America on the pinnacle of human capacity for endurance, determination, strategic planning and near perfect execution.

America might have the size and population above 200 million so it’s success can be expected, however Jamaica an island of 150 miles by 50 miles has gone beyond exporting Reggae’s global icons like Bob Marley and Alton Ellis to producing 100 meters legends Usain Bolt, Sherry Ann Fraser-Price and Marlene Ottey thereby winning international recognition and inevitable public reckoning far beyond most African countries.

Now a land locked southern African sub-continent country Botswana with less than the population of Lagos State just on Sunday won the 4 x 400 men’s relay gold at the Tokyo 2025 games even after picking a few other medals through individual athletes Tebogo et al.

The Tokyo games have come and gone with Tobi Amusan putting Nigeria on the medals table with her 100 meters Silver medal.  Ajayi’s efforts in the 100 meters men’s final was also commendable.

For me the highest point was the super- human diminutive Kenyan Faith Kipyegon in the 1500 metres clinching gold and 5000 metres silver.

Another great spectacle was the exploits of American idol Noah Lyle who anchored the last leg of the 4 x100 metres gold winning quartet.

Lyle won the 200 metres gold as well becoming one of the audaciuos and eye-catching supreme athletes of Tokyo 2025. Mention must be made of Sweden’s Armand Mondo who broke the pole vault world record thrice in two days.

So when and how would Nigeria get to these towering heights of conquering the world?

The fact is that we once had Olympic and World Athletics finalists like Innocent Egbunike (400m) , Chidi Imo (100 and 200m), Yusuf Alli (Long jump) and Falilat Ogunkoya (400m) although it was the American University collegiate structure that groomed them to become world beaters with little or no input from the home government.

Once in a long while a training grant of $50,000 gets handed to them in preparation for Olympic games to pay their coaches and for utilizing training facilities abroad. Even Ezekiel Nathaniel and Oyinkansola Ajayi are still beneficiaries of the American University collegiate structure.

The aforementioned names who also schooled and trained in the United States are still very much around especially Yusuf Alli, Falilat and Mary Onyali.

The authorities need to device the appropriate strategies to achieve podium standings in the nearest immediate future.

All the products of the National Youth Games and the School Sports Federation games should be drafted into a growth enhancement program, hire some of the best Athletics coaches from around the world and ensure the construction and maintenance of high-performance pitches and gymnasia.

The Sports Federations must be populated with patriotic and passionate sports men who are brimming with enthusiasm, desire and creativity.

President Tinubu did not only resuscitate the National Sports Commission, he gave an unprecedented 12 billion naira to the Sports Ministry for AFCON and other tournaments earlier this year so we have a listening President who can restore our lost glory in sports and athletics in particular. Nigeria must reclaim its podium standing capability as soon as possible.

Danladi Bako, OON was Senior Special Assistant to former Minister of Youth and Sports as well as one-time Chairman Sokoto State Football Association.

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