By Comments,The Nation

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By Tayo Ogunbiyi

Lagos is on the verge of achieving yet another historic feat. Between October 3 and 5, the city will host the prestigious E1 Electric Boat Racing Championship, a revolutionary electric powerboat competition. It will be the first time the race will be held on the African continent.

The E1 World Championship is the world’s first all-electric powerboat series, aimed at promoting clean energy and marine sustainability. It is an adventurous sport being introduced to Africa to create opportunities for talented young Africans, particularly those interested in water sports.

Some of the biggest names in sports who have shown interest in the tournament include American NBA forward LeBron James, Chelsea FC of England’s former striker and Ivorian soccer icon Didier Drogba, and the legendary Spanish former tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, among others.

The conversation to bring the race to Africa started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the Didier Drogba-led team met with the E1 Racing Team. It’s all part of the collective efforts to steer positive changes across the African continent.

Described as a fusion of bold innovation, clean energy, and futuristic marine transportation, the E1 Championship has quickly risen to prominence as the world’s first all-electric powerboat racing series. Now, Lagos is set to take centre stage on the E1 calendar — a move hailed as a significant stride for sports, sustainability, and tourism in Africa.

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In a post on his Instagram account, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described it as a major milestone. “This is a major milestone — not just for Lagos, but for the entire continent,” he said.

“It’s a powerful signal that Lagos is ready to lead the global conversation around clean energy, sustainability, and technological innovation in marine transport”, the governor added.

The historic hosting of the event has been made possible through a strategic partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), whose investment in Team Drogba, one of the E1 Racing teams, reflects growing confidence in Africa’s capacity to engage in high-stakes, future-facing global ventures.

Organizers of the all-electric race boat contest have taken an exploratory tour of the state’s waterways infrastructure to ensure the smooth hosting of the event.

Undoubtedly, the choice of Lagos to host the tournament presented another unique opportunity to tell the city’s story sustainably. Considering all the efforts of the government to attract such a high-calibre global event, the state is prepared and ready to host the World Race Boat Championship.

The vision of the current administration in Lagos is not just about making Lagos a global city; it is about building Lagos as an African model city where global corporations can thrive and leverage the available opportunities. This, thus, explains the excitement about the E1 Racing Team’s initiative. It represents not just Lagos’ success, but the glory of the African dream.

The state has adequate manpower and infrastructure to be able to take in all participating visitors and athletes. As is characteristic of the current administration in the state, it has been working around the clock with other stakeholders to ensure the tournament is transaction-ready.

Recall that the state has previously received a team from Formula One, which was in Lagos for an exploratory exercise to understudy the traffic flow and infrastructure in the transportation sector. This, certainly, attests to the renewed interest in the state by multinational organizations.

The Sanwo-Olu administration had earlier formed a partnership with the French Development Bank to improve the waterways experience. This has informed the plans of the government to change state-owned ferries from hydrocarbon to electric boats.

The Lagos leg of the E1 Championship is expected to draw thousands of international visitors, while also spotlighting local culture, innovation, and marine infrastructure development.

In addition to showcasing electric racing boats on Lagos waters, the event will include cultural exhibitions, tech showcases, and investment summits aimed at advancing the blue economy and eco-tourism.

At the maiden media briefing on the event in Victoria Island, Lagos, the organisers of the E1 Series and the state government expressed their readiness to host a world-class E1 Electric Powerboat Championship, which will bring over 250 sports personalities to Lagos.

They said the landmark event symbolises Lagos’ commitment to clean energy and climate action, promotion of innovation, tourism, cultural exchange, commerce, sustainability, water transportation, and sports potential. The event, they noted, will place Lagos alongside Monaco, Venice, and Jeddah as a global host city.

Speaking during the press conference, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of E1 Series, Rodi Basso, said Lagos competed with other global cities to secure the hosting rights, which would open the state up to more investment opportunities in international sports and entertainment.

While hinting that nine teams, including Didier Drogba and Will Smith teams, will be in Lagos for the electric boat racing, Basso assured that the technology-driven sport would be sustained in partnership with the Lagos State government.

Also speaking, Sam Egube, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Deputy Chief of Staff to Lagos State governor, said the landmark event will serve as a global showcase for Lagos’ culture, energy, and economic potential.

Egube noted that beyond sporting significance, the E1 championship would showcase Lagos on the global map in line with Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to joining international conversations on sustainable energy and innovation in marine transport.

He described the coming race as a testament to Lagos’s capacity as a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and creativity, hosting an event that merges speed, sustainability, and innovation.

“It signals economic opportunity, tourism growth, and global prestige. E1 Lagos GP elevates Nigeria’s profile as a modern, progressive, and forward-thinking nation”, Egube noted.

“This is an opportunity to show the world what makes Lagos special: the cultural heritage and energy of Lagos people. It is also an opportunity to welcome tourists and investors, share Lagos’ success stories, and bring in more investment to highlight the city’s aquatic splendour. History is happening here. Lagos is racing for the future, for Africa, for the world,” he added.

Experts are of the view that this hosting opportunity could pave the way for broader conversations about the future of marine sustainability in Africa, especially as cities like Lagos seek cleaner alternatives to traditional marine transport amid rising concerns over climate change and pollution.

To really drive home the point, preparations are already underway for what is expected to be one of the most dynamic public-private collaborations in the city’s recent history. Stakeholders across infrastructure, tourism, sports development, and environmental policy have begun aligning their plans for October.

With this historic hosting, Lagos positions itself not only as a hub for innovation and entertainment but also as a beacon of African leadership in sustainability and next-gen sport

Lagos’ hosting of the global event affirms the state’s readiness to join international conversations on sustainable energy and innovation in marine transport. It also reflects its readiness to be part of the global conversation on clean energy, sustainability, and new approaches to marine transportation.

Beyond the sporting angle, there are also the cultural and economic perspectives on the championship. It’s a chance to welcome visitors, share our stories, and highlight the incredible potential of the ‘Centre of Excellence’.

Ogunbiyi is Director, Public Enlightenment & Community Relations, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.