Sports
Two Nigerian Athletes For Paris Marathon
Marathoners finishing their race
Two Nigerian athletes
that emerged as winners at the last Lagos City Marathon are to be sponsored to the April 3 Paris Marathon.
The two are Sharubutu Philibus, 27, from Nassarawa and Dinatu Yohanna, 26, who would don the Nigerian national colours at the event, courtesy of Schneider Electric, a Lagos-based subsidiary of a multinational company.
Ironically, the main company is the title sponsor of the Paris Marathon.
Philibus, who spoke on behalf of his colleague at a news conference called by the Office of the Lagos City Marathon to unveil them, said he was proud to be associated with the event.
“I am proud of the Lagos City Marathon. It is the best in the world.’’
Earlier, Deji Tinubu, the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) held on February 6 said, although Schneider Electric did not participate during the event, they were interested in being a part of the success story of the marathon.
“I am happy to announce to you that the company’s commitment toward bankrolling these two athletes to the Paris event is part of the gains that Lagos is reaping from hosting such a big event.
“I can assure you that we will reap more benefits from the event. Indeed, the company says it will be part of the future marathon events involving Lagos State,’’ Tinubu said.
Solomon Ogba, the president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) hailed Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos for his enthusiasm in backing the staging of the marathon, which was supported by Access Bank.
“The marathon has opened a new vista. Long distance racing was a way of life in the 1960s and the ‘70s. Lagos is only spear-heading a resurgence of what has been a part of the country in the past.’’
According to him, it existed then as a cross country, usually held at weekends and also in the secondary schools.
“We at AFN have decided to endorse the Lagos marathon as a full marathon — indeed the flagship — while states like Uyo, Port Harcourt, Bauchi and Warri, itching to stage such an event, will be restricted to between 10 to 15 kilometre races.
The representative of the company, Anne Eze, the Field Marketing Director, said that they were associating with Lagos as a way of reinforcing their commitment to the state that had taken the bold step to host the event.
“We are a global brand in the energy business. We support life because electricity, which is our core mandate, supports better life with sustainable electricity supply.’’
She said that Schneider Electric’s Paris Marathon would provide a perfect opportunity to link their brand to the spirit and value embodied by the timeless challenge of the marathon and focus on the people, technologies and the ability to do things differently.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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