The maiden Kogi Half Marathon, has been scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 in Lokoja, the state capital, the organizers have announced.
Beyond the race, the State Government aims to use the marathon as a tool for promoting unity, youth development, healthy living, sports excellence, and tourism.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Monday Anyebe, said during the unveiling of the planned half marathon in Lokoja, that the initiative was conceived by the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led administration. And that it will attract athletes, sports enthusiasts, partners, and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond to Lokoja.
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According to him, Kogi State Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, was poised to used the marathon to further highlight the administration’s commitment to empowering young people through sports, fostering unity, and positioning Kogi State as a destination for national and international sporting events.
“The Kogi Half Marathon is more than a race; it is a platform for youth engagement, talent discovery, economic stimulation, and the promotion of peace and healthy lifestyles. We are excited to welcome athletes, sports enthusiasts, partners, and visitors from across Nigeria and beyond to Lokoja on 22th January 2026″.
In addition, the event will feature professional and amateur runners, with appropriate safety, medical, and traffic management measures in place to ensure a smooth and successful race.
Also, cash prizes will be up for grabs ; just as recognition will be awarded to outstanding performers. This is beside the attractions designed to create an engaging experience for residents and visitors.
The Youth and Sports Commissioner used the forum to call on corporate organizations, development partners, sports bodies, enthusiasts, and the general public to support and participate in this historic sporting event, which he emphasised “reflects Kogi State’s growing profile in sports development and youth empowerment”.
He equally acknowledged and applauded the contributions of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for creating an enabling environment for events of this nature to as well as youth and sports development to thrive.
“You will of course, agree with me that this government has done excellently well in terms of youth and sports development, not neglecting other critical infrastructure and human capital development” he further added.
Earlier while delivering the address of the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Aliyu Nda and Co-Chairman, Enoch Maji, the Secretary of Committee, Mr Achor Michael, said Kogi State Government has rolled out a traffic management plan to enable motorists commute easily during the 21 Km marathon.
According to him, the race will commence from Felele bus stop through dedicated routes to the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Center to ensure the safety and security of the participants and runners. Just as a medical team and ambulances would be deployed to tackle all health related issues.
He further disclosed that two million naira would be up for grabs by winners in the male and female categories and that a total of 500 runners are expected to participate in the one day event.
The committee urged all interested to register through the kogihalfmarathon.com portal designed to automatically close as soon as required number of runners are secured.
While calling on residents of the state capital and Nigerians in general to participate actually as well as come out in their numbers to support the programme, the committee disclosed that the marathon was also tailored at spotlighting the numerous achievements of the Governor Ododo led administration as it marks it’s 2nd anniversary.
