Few races on the Nigerian road running calendar blend elite excellence with local inspiration quite like the Premium Trust Bank Abuja Half Marathon. On a vibrant Saturday in the Federal Capital Territory, Kenya stamped its familiar authority on the elite podiums, yet the story that lingered after the finish tape was how Nigerian athletes, buoyed by thoughtful organisation and growing support, turned a continental showcase into proof of rising potential.
Kenya leads the elite fields in Abuja
The men’s race unfolded with clinical precision from the Kenyan contingent. Kephar Namutala produced a winning strike in 1:05:14:45, with compatriot Edwin Kipyago chasing home in 1:05:39:73, and Ezekiel Chepkoromi sealing third in 1:06:05:09. It was a clean sweep, a reminder of Kenya’s storied lineage in long-distance running and a standard that continues to challenge every field it faces.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s strength shone again. Mercy Jepkemoi timed her effort to perfection in 1:14:53:23, pulling away late to secure the title. Her poise under pressure mirrored the Kenyan blueprint, measured early pace, decisive moves, and relentless closing speed.
Nigeria claims proud moments on home roads
Amid the Kenyan mastery, the home crowd found a powerful reason to cheer. Adamu Shehu, running with a cool head and a clear plan, placed fourth overall in 1:08:25:49, the top Nigerian finisher on the day. His reward reflected the scale of the stage, $4,000 for a top eight finish and ₦2 million as Nigeria’s best ranked athlete, a double affirmation of class and consistency.
Nigerian depth also came to the fore. Auta Monday placed eighth overall in 1:09:45:96, earning $500 and ₦1.5 million as second in the national classification. Friday Elisha rounded out the top three Nigerians in the men’s category with a time of 1:10:30:52, evidence that the domestic pack is learning to race smarter and finish stronger.
A historic day for Nigerian women
There are results that nod to progress, and there are results that redefine the conversation. The Abuja finish line delivered the latter when Shambor Blessing crossed in second with 1:16:28:69, closely followed by Akusho Lydia in third with 1:16:34:67. With Jepkemoi in first, the women’s podium became a powerful snapshot, Kenya’s excellence met by a Nigerian surge that marked one of the country’s best collective elite outings.
For many observers, it was the chemistry of preparation, opportunity, and belief. With the race offering a competitive field and efficient logistics, Nigerian athletes translated months of work into tangible steps forward. The women’s results, in particular, gave fans and officials a compelling glimpse of what a structured pathway can unlock.
Voices that shaped the race
In Abuja, the story was not only in the times, it was also in the voices that echoed along the route and at the finish. The National Sports Commission leadership put the day in context, aligning performance with policy and ambition. NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko applauded the organisers, Nilayo Sports Management Limited, for elevating professional road racing in Nigeria, underscoring a vision that sees road running as a strategic frontier for national success.
NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade reinforced the sentiment, describing the growing visibility of long-distance running as a springboard for more breakthroughs. The praise was not abstract, it was anchored in a race that ran on time, drew quality fields, and delivered results that matter to athletes and fans alike.
Government support and a call to dream bigger
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Adeboye, offered a sweeping endorsement of both the event and its architects. He hailed PremiumTrust Bank for meaningful sponsorship and singled out Nilayo Sports MD and CEO, Yetunde Olopade, as one of the most impactful visionaries in the Nigerian sports industry. The message was clear, consistent excellence in event delivery breeds performance momentum for athletes.
Adeboye’s remarks framed the day as a starting point, not a destination. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to long-distance athlete development, stressing that the Abuja showpiece signals a new era. With structures, support, and more competitions of this calibre, Nigeria can move from hopeful challenger to consistent contender.
Adamu Shehu becomes the symbol of steady rise
On the men’s side for Nigeria, one figure stood tallest. Shehu Adamu Muazu spoke with the calm of an athlete who knows the power of patience. After finishing as Nigeria’s fourth runner in the 2024 edition, he became the first Nigerian across the line this year while also placing fourth overall, a leap that reflects disciplined training and a growing belief that the podium can be within reach.
He dedicated his prize to the Public Complaints Commission, where he works, and saluted what he described as unwavering support from colleagues and leadership. The personal touch mattered, his journey is not isolated, it is rooted in a community that allowed him to balance professional life and a rising athletic profile.
“Honestly, I am so excited, but I knew I could do it. In last year’s edition, I came in as Nigeria’s number four. This time, I am the overall number four and the first Nigerian to cross the line.”
Looking ahead, Muazu has fixed his gaze on the next chapter. He has already set a target to win the race in 2026, a statement backed by a refreshed approach after the National Sports Festival and a training block designed to sharpen his ability to handle pace changes over the second half of the race.
“My target is to win this race next year. I focused fully on daily training so that I would come here to do better. I did not win, but I know I can do it.”
A student’s lesson on opportunity and belief
Beyond the podiums, the Premium Trust Bank Abuja Half Marathon produced another narrative thread worth holding onto. Musbahu Hamza, an undergraduate at Aliko Dangote University of Science And Technology, took on the elite field and finished in 1:18, and he emerged with a clear plan for the future. His goal is to reach a world standard mark of one hour seven minutes, a stretch target that now feels attainable after experiencing elite competition.
Hamza’s story speaks to the value of access. He had previously tried to register for an international race but was not selected, and he often focused on student meets. The Abuja race, helped by modest support that covered participation logistics, turned aspiration into structure, a chance to measure himself against seasoned runners and plot the next step.
“I am now targetting the world mark. Last year, I saw that the first position was one hour seven minutes, and the second was one hour eight minutes.”
He left the race with gratitude for Premium Trust Bank and the organisers, pointing to welfare, security, and the sense that athletes are valued. For a young runner, these are not small details, they are the blocks from which confidence is built and careers begin to take shape.
How structure met ambition on Abuja roads
Every major road race is a test of logistics as much as speed. In Abuja, Nilayo Sports Management Limited earned plaudits for delivering a world class competition with clean execution. From field curation to finish zone efficiency, the event set a benchmark that top athletes respect and developing athletes need.
The outcomes were measurable. Elite athletes received clear incentives, $8,000 for the men’s champion, $6,000 for second, $5,000 for third, with Nigerian award tiers that recognized homegrown excellence. This blend of international competitiveness and local encouragement created an ecosystem where performance is rewarded and progression is nurtured.
Key results at a glance
- Men’s elite podium, Kephar Namutala 1:05:14:45, Edwin Kipyago 1:05:39:73
- Men’s third place, Ezekiel Chepkoromi 1:06:05:09
- Top Nigerian men, Adamu Shehu 1:08:25:49, Auta Monday 1:09:45:96, Friday Elisha 1:10:30:52.
- Women’s winner, Mercy Jepkemoi 1:14:53:23
- Nigerian women’s breakthroughs, Shambor Blessing 1:16:28:69, Akusho Lydia 1:16:34:67.
What the performances say about Nigeria’s trajectory
Place the results on a wider timeline and a pattern emerges. Nigerian men are closing gaps in the back half of races, a sign that training intensity and race craft are improving. The women’s podium places by Shambor Blessing and Akusho Lydia suggest depth is emerging behind the front runner, turning isolated talents into a unit that can compete with visiting elites.
There is also the soft power that events like this cultivate. When an athlete like Adamu Shehu dedicates success to the Public Complaints Commission and thanks his coach, it validates the networks that sustain performance. When a student like Hamza finds a runway for his ambition, it becomes easier to believe in a sustainable future for distance running in Nigeria.
Why Abuja felt different this year
The 2025 PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City Half Marathon drew praise from government stakeholders and industry leaders who framed it as one of the best organised road races in Nigeria to date. That matters for recruitment, retention, and reputation, three pillars that ensure elite fields return and local athletes plan seasons around a flagship competition.
It also matters for the message it sends. Adeyinka Adeboye highlighted the role of strategic sponsorship, recognising PremiumTrust Bank for investing in athletics with clarity and purpose. He credited Yetunde Olopade’s leadership at Nilayo Sports for consistency and excellence, elements that transform single day events into long term platforms for athlete development.
Inside the athletes’ mindset on race day
Listen closely to the top finishers and a common thread runs through their stories. They speak of discipline in training, of measured rest, and of faith in a plan. Muazu took a short break after the National Sports Festival to reset, then focused on daily sessions tailored to the demands of 21.1 kilometers, a blueprint that delivered a career best result in Abuja.
For emerging athletes, the lesson is to marry ambition with structure. Compete often enough to learn, rest long enough to absorb, then return with intent. The Abuja course became a classroom where lessons were earned in the final kilometers, where patience shaped pacing, and where perseverance paid out in seconds and placings.
Community, youth, and the bigger picture
There was a social dimension to the celebration that went beyond medals and cheques. Muazu praised the event for bringing youths together, providing a healthy alternative to social vices, and inspiring self reliance. Such comments are more than post race pleasantries, they are signposts that road racing can be a constructive outlet across communities.
Multiply that effect across regions, and the benefits compound. With more races, more coaching touchpoints, and more sponsorship, the pipeline strengthens. Athletes like Hamza, who now believe a 1:07 target is feasible, will pull others along, competition inside Nigeria will intensify, and international results will follow.
A closing image from Abuja
As the final finishers trickled across the line and the elite podiums wrapped, the Abuja air felt charged with something more than the residue of effort. It felt like a promise, that Kenya’s excellence can be the benchmark that lifts Nigeria to new heights. That organisers and sponsors can shape conditions where talent does not just appear, it thrives.
On a day when Kenya swept the men’s podium and Mercy Jepkemoi reasserted Kenyan quality in the women’s race, Nigeria still had ample reason to smile. With Shehu Adamu Muazu rising, with Shambor Blessing and Akusho Lydia breaking new ground, and with a student dreamer named Musbahu Hamza setting targets that once felt out of reach, the Premium Trust Bank Abuja Half Marathon became what the best races always are, a mirror to the present and a window to what comes next.
Final word from the finish line
Great road races are built on partnership. PremiumTrust Bank provided strategic sponsorship, Nilayo Sports Management Limited delivered seamless organisation, and the National Sports Commission offered vision and endorsement. The athletes, from champions to first timers, supplied the courage and the cadence.
If Abuja is the template, then the future looks bright. Keep the standards high, keep the doors open, and keep the focus on athlete experience. Do that, and the next time the tape flutters in the FCT breeze, Nigeria might not only celebrate breakthrough performances, it might celebrate victories that once seemed a world away.
