AFN Sets the Pace for a Blockbuster Season as Okowa Vows to Restore Athletics’ Lost Glory


The starting gun has sounded early, and Nigerian athletics is already charging into what promises to be a defining year.


With a comprehensive and far-reaching 2026 competition calendar, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has firmly set the tone for one of its most ambitious seasons in recent history, signaling a renewed determination to reclaim the nation’s place on the global athletics stage.


Spanning grassroots development, elite competition, and international exposure, the message is unmistakable: Nigerian athletics is back on the front foot.


The season begins with athlete registration and affiliation exercises before transitioning seamlessly into a series of major domestic competitions. These include the AFN/Agroterra 10km Cross Country Race, the AFN Golden League, National Championships, Kids’ Athletics Series, elite relay meets, and regional events scheduled across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Benin City, and other key hubs nationwide.


The calendar is not merely packed, it is purposeful. Designed to rebuild systems, improve standards, and restore lost glory, it lays a clear pathway for sustained excellence and competitive dominance.


On the international front, Nigerian athletes are set for robust global exposure, with appearances planned at the World Relays, Diamond League meetings, World Junior Championships, World Athletics Ultimate Championships, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.


The intent is strategic. The ambition is clear.


Driving this renewed momentum is AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, whose leadership has injected fresh belief and structure into the sport. From the onset of his tenure, Okowa has remained resolute in his commitment to reviving the prestige of Nigerian athletics.


“This calendar is a statement,” an AFN official noted.

“It reflects intent, structure, and confidence in the ability of our athletes to compete at the highest level.”


Chief Okowa’s vision is anchored on rebuilding strong administrative systems, empowering athletes, supporting coaches, and restoring Nigeria’s credibility as a respected global athletics force. Initiatives such as anti-doping education, coaches’ capacity-building workshops, regional championships, and youth-focused competitions are central pillars, not afterthoughts, of the federation’s reform agenda.


Crucially, the 2026 calendar strikes a deliberate balance: nurturing future stars through the Kids Athletics R.A.C.E Series, sharpening elite athletes via high-performance competitions, and reconnecting fans with the sport through nationwide festivals and championships.


As tracks across the country heat up from January to December, one fact stands clear, the AFN is no longer reacting to events; it is setting the pace.


With Chief Tonobok Okowa at the helm, backed by the National Sports Commission (NSC), corporate partners, and a clearly defined roadmap, Nigerian athletics is pursuing more than medals this season.


“We are chasing identity, pride, and a return to the top,”* Okowa assured.

“The season is long, the stakes are high, and the comeback of Nigerian athletics has officially begun.”*

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