World News Update

PRESS STATEMENT Twenty-six (26) Nigerian athletes have received a major morale boost ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as the National Sports Commission (NSC), through its Elite and Podium Board, has disbursed training grants totaling over ₦200 million to selected top-performing athletes. The athletes were drawn from both foreign-based and home-based categories, benefitting from the grants, as it will cater for their training and preparation expenses. The recipients cut across several sports, including athletics, wrestling, weightlifting and para-sports, in line with the Commission’s mandate to prioritise athlete welfare and high-performance development. The disbursement follows the establishment of the Elite and Podium Board, created to implement a scientific and institutionalised support system aimed at sustaining peak performances by Nigerian athletes at major international competitions. Athletes in weightlifting, athletics, taekwondo, powerlifting, para table tennis,...

With four days to go until the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, excitement shifts to the official marathon Expo, which began on Monday, February 9 and runs through February 13 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The Expo serves as the heartbeat of the marathon build-up, bringing together runners, partners, health experts and fans ahead of race day.  MD/CEO Nilayo Sports, Mrs Yetunde Olopade said “this Expo reflects our commitment to wellness, inclusion and awareness. From health talks to exhibitions, it creates an opportunity to encourage people of all ages to embrace fitness as a lifestyle, not just a one-day event.” Participants will complete kit pick-up, explore exhibitions from leading brands and stakeholders, and engage in health talks focused on fitness, wellness and endurance. As Lagos counts down to race day, the Expo sets the tone, creating a vibrant meeting point where preparation meets anticipation, and the city’s marathon spirit comes alive.

PRESS STATEMENT As Nigeria’s sports ecosystem prepares for the historic inauguration of the newly constituted Board of the Nigeria Federation of American Football (NFAF), two of the country’s leading women’s sports bodies, the National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS) and the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN) have secured representation on the board. The new board will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, by the National Sports Commission (NSC) at its headquarters in Abuja at 1 p.m.  The inauguration will coincide with the meeting of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the second edition of the 2027 African School Sports Games, scheduled for the same day. NAWIS and AFFAN have nominated Dr. Oluyomi Oluwasanmi and Uchenna Usife, respectively, to serve as members of the board. The inclusion of representatives from both organisations reflects the NSC’s continued commitment to promoting gender inclusion and balanced representation in...

Members of the Sporting Media are hereby invited to these events ;  *Inauguration of the LOC of the 2nd edition of the 2027  African School Sports*  Time ; 11 pm  Venue ; Media Centre Moshood Abiola National stadium Abuja  Date ; Tuesday, February 10th 2026  *Inauguration of the New board of the Nigeria Federation of American Football NFAF*  Time ; 1 pm  Venue ; Media Centre Moshood Abiola National stadium Abuja  Date ; Tuesday, February 10th 2026

With five days left to the February 14 showdown, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is already crackling with intrigue, expectation and quiet tension.  From elite runners plotting their race-day strategies to Lagosians preparing to line the streets, the city is once again counting down to a contest where endurance, pride and serious prize money collide. This year’s marathon carries added edge, with a lucrative prize purse that continues to attract top international and local athletes.  The winner will walk away with $50,000, while strong rewards await finishers across the podium and performance categories, a financial incentive that raises the stakes and guarantees an uncompromising battle from start to finish. Presidential Spokesperson and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Hon. Sunday Dare, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and former Super Eagles international, Seyi George Olofinjana, are among the high-profile figures expected...

Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the World Athletics African Running Conference, Chief Solomon Ogba, says Nigeria is on the verge of becoming Africa’s leading destination for road races. Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated African Running Conference scheduled to hold in Lagos from Feb. 12–13, 2026, the globally respected sports administrator said Nigeria is finally taking its place as a sporting powerhouse, citing the growing feasibility and success of road races in the country. Ogba said the upcoming conference is a clear testament to the progress made in the organization of world-class marathons in Nigeria. “We are making significant progress in road races, and the entire world is aware of this. That is why I am very excited about the upcoming Running Conference in Lagos,” Ogba said. He noted that the conference will bring together leading experts and stakeholders from across the globe. “It will be a gathering of the best minds in road running, from the world govern...