Kenyan legend and IOC member to headline high-profile conference aimed at revolutionizing road racing across the African continent.

Lagos is rolling out the red carpet for royalty of the track. Paul Tergat, the former marathon world record holder and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is set to touch down in Nigeria’s commercial capital on Wednesday. The Kenyan sporting icon is the headline guest for the World Athletics African Running Conference, a two-day summit that promises to reshape the landscape of distance running in Africa. His arrival signals the growing stature of Lagos as a hub for international sports development.

A Meeting of Minds

Tergat will not be travelling alone; he is accompanied by his social media manager, Gloria Tergat, indicating the modern approach he brings to sports administration. The conference, which serves as a curtain-raiser for the Lagos City Marathon, will gather the continent’s finest technical experts, administrators, and stakeholders. "Tergat’s presence is a game-changer," said an organizer. "He brings not just his legacy as an athlete, but his weight as a global administrator."

• The Agenda: The summit will focus on professionalizing road races in Africa, improving athlete welfare, and leveraging the continent's immense talent pool for economic growth. With delegates like Neelkaunt Bhujuu from Mauritius already in town, the stage is set for serious deliberations.
• The Lagos City Marathon: The conference builds momentum towards Saturday’s main event—the Lagos City Marathon. The race, featuring a newly designed route, is expected to benefit from the technical insights shared during the summit, elevating it to world-class standards.

The Tergat Effect

For young Nigerian athletes, the chance to breathe the same air as a man who once held the world spellbound with his rivalry against Haile Gebrselassie is inspiring. Tergat’s transition from elite competitor to top-tier administrator offers a roadmap for African athletes looking beyond the finish line.

As the "Gentleman of Athletics" arrives in Lagos, the message is clear: Africa is ready to stop just running and start leading the global conversation on the sport it dominates.