The ancient city of Ile Ife, celebrated as the cradle of civilisation, is poised to host the inaugural Olojo Festival 5km Road Race this Thursday, showcasing Nigeria’s top distance running talent. The race forms part of the iconic Olojo Festival, a significant celebration of creation, renewal, and the spiritual significance of Ile Ife within Yoruba cosmology.
Leading the pack is Nyango Gyang Boyi, who has been hailed as Nigeria’s standout distance runner of the year. Boyi made headlines in February by finishing eighth overall in the World Athletics Gold Label Lagos Marathon, completing the course in 2:25:41—marking one of the fastest marathon times by a Nigerian in over a decade. His impressive performance secured him a $4,000 prize, along with an additional ₦2 million as the first Nigerian to cross the finish line.
Another contender to watch is Raymond Iliya Gyang, who boasts a personal best of 14:47.26 in the 5000m.
On the women’s side, Blessing Shambor Solomon, the winner of Nigeria’s first-ever cross-country race in 2023, is set to vie for the Olojo 5km crown. Solomon has a 5000m personal best of 17:16.35 and clocked 2:55:10 in the marathon at this year’s Lagos Marathon. She will face tough competition from Charity Agofure, who has broken the 18-minute barrier in the 5000m, and David Abiye Joy, a multiple champion of 10km road races, including the Lagos Women’s Run.
Taiwo Aladefa, a former African Games champion and renowned Nigerian hurdler, emphasised the broader purpose of the race: “We aim to unearth talent that can be nurtured into stardom, just as we were once scouted and developed into African champions and Olympians. We believe this initiative must start somewhere.” Aladefa also mentioned that organisers are committed to not only conducting the race but also nurturing discovered talents for future success.
She highlighted Iba Town, a historic Yoruba community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, as a potential training hub, noting its altitude of approximately 394 meters (1,293 feet) above sea level, which offers ideal conditions for endurance training.
Race director Chief Tony Osheku believes the participation of elite Nigerian athletes at the Olojo 5km road race will inspire local athletes in and around Ile Ife.
