ABEOKUTA, Ogun State — Musa Francis James and Akanbi Aderonke Olufunmilayo emerged as the leading athletes at the fifth edition of the Abeokuta 10km Race, winning the men’s and women’s categories respectively as athletes, fitness enthusiasts and residents converged on Abeokuta for the annual road race.
Francis James produced a strong performance to win the men’s 10km race in 30:25.33, finishing ahead of Ilya Raymond, who clocked 30:38.06. Gyang Sunday completed the podium in 30:47.00.
James’ victory earned him the $1,000 first prize, while Raymond received $750 for second place and Gyang took home $500.
The women’s race also produced a competitive finish, with Akanbi Aderonke Olufunmilayo crossing the line first in 35:00.69 to claim the $1,000 winner’s prize.
Bulus Mary Jah finished second in 35:58.71 and received $750, while Nwantiyi Teyei Davou placed third with a time of 36:03.09 and earned $500.
For the winners, the race represented the culmination of preparation and training, but it also offered another opportunity for athletes to compete in a growing Nigerian road-racing circuit.
“I’m very happy with the victory,” James said after the race. “It feels good to see all the hard work and preparation pay off.”
The champion also expressed appreciation to the organisers for providing athletes with a platform to compete.
Raymond, who narrowly finished behind James, said he was pleased with his performance and the opportunity to compete among a strong field.
“I’m glad and excited to have been a winner. It feels really good to see all the effort and preparation pay off,” he said.
For Gyang, finishing among the top three was a moment of satisfaction.
“I’m just happy to be one of the people to grace the podium. It is a good feeling to finish among the top athletes, especially in a race like this,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the Abeokuta race would continue to expand and attract more athletes in future editions.
In the women’s category, Akanbi described her victory as a reward for the work that went into her preparation.
“I am very happy to have won the women’s race. It was not easy, but I am glad that all the hard work paid off,” she said.
She also praised the organisers for creating opportunities for athletes to compete, adding that she hoped the race would continue to grow and provide a platform for more competitors.
More Than a Race
Organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, the Abeokuta 10km Race has developed beyond a conventional competitive event, bringing together professional and recreational participants while creating a public platform for fitness and community engagement.
The fifth edition also placed attention on the role of sporting events in creating opportunities for Nigerian athletes.
Nilayo Sports Management Limited Managing Director, Yetunde Olopade, said the organisers were pleased with the outcome of the race and thanked the athletes, participants, government, sponsors and partners for their support.
“We are delighted with the outcome of this year’s Abeokuta 10km Race. The quality, organisation and enthusiasm shown by the participants have once again demonstrated what can be achieved when everyone comes together,” Olopade said.
She thanked the Ogun State Government as well as the event’s sponsors and partners, including Phlo, Bet9ja Foundation, 7UP and Aquafina.
According to Olopade, Nilayo Sports Management Limited would continue to maintain the standards associated with its sporting events.
The race also drew attention to the growing conversation around opportunities for men and women in Nigerian sports.
National Sports Commission Director General, Bukola Olopade, highlighted the equal prize money awarded to the winners of both categories as an example of how sporting events can create opportunities across gender lines.
“I have always been a fan of equality. When you look at what Nilayo has done here, giving the same prize money to the men and women, it is something we should encourage,” he said.
He also pointed to the broader development of Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem and the need to create more avenues through which athletes can compete and earn a living from sport.
“The Nigerian sporting ecosystem is getting bigger, and with events like this, we are creating more avenues for our sportsmen and women to thrive, compete and earn a living from sport,” he said.
Abeokuta Takes Centre Stage
The event also highlighted Abeokuta’s potential as a host city for road races and other sporting activities.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, commended Nilayo Sports Management Limited for staging the race and praised residents for turning out to support the event.
Dare said the event showed that Nigeria could host high-quality sporting competitions while using sport to promote physical activity and healthy living.
“Nilayo has once again demonstrated that we can organise world-class sporting events in Nigeria,” he said.
The turnout, he added, reflected the enthusiasm Nigerians have for sports and healthy living.
For Abeokuta residents, the event offered an opportunity to participate in activities outside the conventional competitive sporting environment, while the presence of athletes and dignitaries brought additional attention to the city.
The race therefore served several purposes at once: a platform for athletes to compete, a fitness activity for members of the public, and an opportunity to promote Abeokuta as a destination for sporting events.
Among those present were Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, Wasiu Isiaka; Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, Tunde Delu; former Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye; and former members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Femi Allen Taylor and Idowu Olowofuja.
With Francis James and Akanbi Aderonke taking the major honours in the 2026 edition, the Abeokuta 10km Race once again combined elite competition with community participation, providing athletes with a platform to compete while bringing residents together around sport, fitness and healthy living.
