The Africa Running Conference 2026 commenced in grand style on Thursday with an engaging and intellectually stimulating workshop session at the Lavender Hall, Eko Hotel, Lagos.
Day One of the conference, dedicated to technical workshops, brought together race organisers, athletics administrators, broadcast experts and global stakeholders for deep conversations on strengthening road running across Africa.
The day began with accreditation before moving into the first technical session titled “Technical Performance: Accurate Timing, Distance and Race Credibility Through Officiating.” The session featured respected experts including Norrie Williamson, David Katz and Thorsten Griesbach, with moderation by Chris Robb. Discussions centred on ensuring global standards in race measurement, timing accuracy and integrity — critical pillars for Africa’s growing road race ecosystem.
A coffee break provided networking opportunities before participants reconvened for a key session on “Community Empowerment: Sustainable Community Partnership Equals Race Success.”
Former Zambia Athletics President Elias Ng’andu Mpondela and Waziri Mainasara of UrbanBetter led insightful conversations on how community ownership and strategic partnerships are essential to the long-term sustainability of road races.
Following a networking lunch, attention shifted to integrity in sport with a presentation on “Anti-Doping in Label Road Races” delivered by Andrea De Mas of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), reinforcing the importance of clean competition in maintaining global credibility.
The workshop continued with a session on Media and Communications: Reaching Globally Through Local Outlets, led by Chris Robb, Founder and CEO of Mass Participation World, highlighting strategies for amplifying African races on the global stage.
The day concluded with a high-impact discussion on “Broadcasting: Bringing Road Races to Life On Air,” featuring Chichi Nwoko, CEO of Team 33, and Felix Awogu, General Manager of SuperSports Nigeria. The session examined production quality, storytelling, and commercial value in live race coverage.
The atmosphere was further enlivened by the arrival of renowned entrepreneur and sports enthusiast, Aisha Achimogu, whose presence added colour and prestige to the workshop as she stepped into the venue to the excitement of participants.
With robust participation, cross-continental knowledge exchange and practical takeaways, Day One set a strong foundation for the main conference scheduled for Friday.
