Festivals

Olojo Festival 5km Road Race Launches with Top Nigerian Runners

Published

1 year ago

September 24, 2025

David Ogunjobi

Olojo Festival 5km Road Race debuts in Ile Ife, featuring Nigeria’s top distance runners and spotlighting cultural heritage and athletic talent

Olojo Festival 5km Road Race will debut tomorrow in the ancient city of Ile Ife, known as the cradle of civilisation.

Also read: Ooni of Ife Slams Oluwo of Iwo over Yoruba Origin

This historic event is set to bring together Nigeria’s finest distance running talent as part of the iconic Olojo Festival, which celebrates creation, renewal, and the spiritual authority of Ile Ife in Yoruba cosmology.

Among the elite competitors is Nyango Gyang Boyi, Nigeria’s standout distance runner this year. Boyi recently grabbed headlines at the World Athletics Gold Label Lagos Marathon by finishing eighth with a time of 2:25:41 — one of the fastest marathon times by a Nigerian in over ten years.

His performance earned him a $4,000 prize alongside ₦2 million for being the first Nigerian to cross the finish line.

Another strong contender is Raymond Iliya Gyang, who boasts a personal best of 14:47.26 in the 5000m and is widely tipped to make a significant impact in the race.

On the women’s front, Blessing Shambor Solomon, winner of Nigeria’s inaugural cross country race in 2023, aims to claim the Olojo 5km title. Solomon holds a 5000m best of 17:16.35 and recorded a marathon time of 2:55:10 at this year’s Lagos Marathon.

Solomon faces stiff competition from Charity Agofure, who has broken the 18-minute barrier in the 5000m, and David Abiye Joy, a multiple 10km road race champion including the Lagos Women’s Run.

Former African Games champion and Nigerian hurdling legend Taiwo Aladefa highlighted the race’s wider vision.

“We want to unearth talents who can be groomed to stardom, just as we were scouted and developed into African champions and Olympians,” she said.

Aladefa also pointed to Osun State’s untapped potential for nurturing athletes, identifying Iba Town in Ifelodun Local Government Area as an ideal training hub.

Situated approximately 394 metres above sea level, Iba offers moderate altitude conditions perfect for endurance training.

Race director Chief Tony Osheku expressed optimism that the participation of Nigeria’s elite athletes will inspire local runners in and around Ile Ife.

Also read: Osun State Pledges Global Recognition for Olojo Festival

The Olojo Festival 5km Road Race promises to be an exciting blend of sporting excellence and cultural celebration, fostering new talent while honouring the rich heritage of Ile Ife.

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OLOJO….Ile Ife’s September Gift To Culture

Published

1 week ago

October 5, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Halima Adaba,

It was a featubal if the people. It was for the anciebt town of Ile Ife, which the Yoruba race refards as the Source.

Also read: Olojo Festival 2026: Ooni Urges Leaders to Prioritise Citizens

And ut was a festivsl for the King, Arole Oduduwa, Oonirisa, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

And so between September 24 and 28th 2026, the annual featuval dazzjed in all its white glory.

Tge Monarch paid the traditional ancestral homage and offered propitiation as part of the sacred rites of the Olojo Festival.
It was a powerful expression of Yoruba heritage, spirituality, and enduring tradition.

Call it a collection of beautiful moments, faces, colours and cultural expressions.

Every frame tells a story.

Every face carries the energy.

Every moment keeps the heritage alive.

Undoubtedly one of the most sacred cultural celebrations in Ilé-Ifẹ̀. It marked a day associated with creation, thanksgiving, ancestral heritage, and the sacred appearance of the Ooni of Ife wearing the revered Aàrẹ crown.

There were also the devotees of the famed god of thunder – Sàngó who were hardly conspicuous at the festival.

Many other traditional groups came out with candor, showing a powerful expression of Yoruba cultural identity, spiritual devotion, and respect for the ancient traditions of Ilé-Ifẹ̀.

Devotees of Sàngó bekieved the ‘appearance’ of the god of thunder on Seotember 26th could be understood as a symbolic meeting of ancestral heritage, spiritual devotion, and the celebration of creation.

It was a moment when the sounds of drums, chants, and traditional praise poetry brought the history of the Yoruba people to life.

Although Olojo is closely associated with Ogun, the god of iron, and the sacred traditions of Ile-Ife, the presence of Sàngó devotees reflected the rich diversity of Yoruba spiritual heritage.

Also read: Olojo Festival 2026: Ooni Urges Leaders to Prioritise Citizens

As a participant enthused at the festival, “To witness Sàngó Olúkòso emerge on Olojo Festival day is to witness a living expression of history, identity, and ancestral pride.”