Abeokuta 10KM: Over 3,000 Athletes Set For October Three Race

By Saheed Afolabi

Abeokuta is set for a major sporting spectacle as more than 3,000 runners prepare to hit the streets of the Ogun State capital for the fifth edition of the Abeokuta 10KM Race on Saturday, October 3.

Organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the race has attracted runners from across Nigeria, with organisers making this year’s edition exclusively for indigenous Nigerian athletes.

The event will flag off at 7am from Macjob Grammar School, Onikolobo, before winding through designated parts of Abeokuta and ending at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto.

With five days to the race, the growing number of registered participants has heightened anticipation among residents, sports lovers and stakeholders, who are expected to turn out in large numbers to witness the competition.

Unlike previous editions involving foreign participation, the 2026 race is designed as a 100 per cent Nigerian affair, giving local athletes an opportunity to compete for honours and prize money on home soil.

The impact of the race, however, is expected to extend beyond athletics, with businesses along the route positioned to benefit from the movement of participants, officials and spectators.

Traders, food vendors, transport operators, artisans and hospitality businesses are among those expected to see increased patronage as thousands of people converge on different parts of the city for the event.

The race is consequently expected to provide a platform for promoting Abeokuta not only as a sporting destination but also as a city with significant cultural and tourism appeal.

Sports administrators, former and current athletes, enthusiasts and other dignitaries are expected to attend the event, adding to the atmosphere surrounding the fifth edition.