The organiser of the yearly 10km Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor, has described road running as a possible tool for economic and youth development.
 
Speaking while welcoming participants to a two-day African Road Running Conference yesterday, Itemuagbor, who heads Pamodzi Sports Marketing, said that the benefits of road running to a nation go far beyond sport itself as it touches health, economy, tourism, and national identity.
 
He expressed confidence that the gathering will energise the discipline across Africa.
 
The two-day conference, which runs from February 12 to 13 in Lagos, has drawn representatives from World Athletics, including Alessio Punzi, Head of Road Running, and Kenyan legend Paul Tergat, a five-time World Cross Country champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist, and multiple World Championships medalist.
 
Itemuagbor said the timing is perfect for Africa to reposition road running as both a sporting and socio-economic driver.
 
He stressed that the conference is not just about races but about aligning with global standards, elevating athletes to elite levels, showcasing innovations in race organisation, and highlighting the economic and social impact of road running.
 
Itemuagbor pointed to Kenya and Ethiopia as examples of how road running can transform societies, saying: “Road running is a major source of employment in many countries, especially Kenya and Ethiopia, which have produced thousands of elite-level runners over time.
 
“These athletes have become social and economic drivers of their regions and countries. If we embrace this in Nigeria, it can also help boost employment generation.”