Lagos to host E1 Boat Race Fiesta

…as Sanwo-Olu meets former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba
By Adeola Ogunrinde
Lagos has been selected as the host city for the E1 World Championship, set to take place next September. Organisers of the all-electric boat race arrived in Lagos on Monday for an exploratory tour of the state’s waterways infrastructure to ensure a seamless hosting of the event.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the event’s sponsors at the State House in Marina on Monday. The delegation was led by Marlene Ngoyi Mvidia, Chief Executive Officer of the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), a subsidiary of Afreximbank.
Former Ivory Coast striker and multiple European football titleholder Didier Drogba, who is championing the E1 sport in Africa, accompanied the sponsor team, which also included E1 Racing Chairman Alejandro Agag and Strategic Adviser Pablo Agag.
The E1 World Championship is an innovative sporting event being introduced to Africa to create opportunities for young talents, particularly water sports enthusiasts.
Some of the biggest names in global sports have shown interest in the tournament, including American NBA star LeBron James and legendary Spanish former tennis champion Rafael Nadal.
Sanwo-Olu described Lagos’ selection as host as “another unique opportunity” to showcase the city’s story in a sustainable manner. He assured the organisers that the state was fully prepared and ready to host the world championship.
“We are not just building Lagos into a global city; we are shaping it to be an African model city where international corporations can come and take advantage of the opportunities available here.
“We are excited about the initiative that the E1 Racing Team and its partners are bringing. This is not just about your success; it is about the glory of the African dream,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He added, “We see this as a unique opportunity to tell Lagos’ story sustainably. We are fully prepared and transaction-ready for the tournament. I assure the athletes and visitors participating that we have the necessary manpower and infrastructure to accommodate all aspects of the project.”
The governor also revealed that Lagos recently hosted a team from Formula One, which visited the state for an exploratory study of traffic flow and transport infrastructure. He noted that this demonstrated growing international interest in Lagos from multinational organisations.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the state’s partnership with the French Development Bank to enhance waterway transport, emphasizing efforts to transition state-owned ferries from hydrocarbon to electric-powered boats.
“We are developing Lagos in an organised yet ambitious manner because we see the state as a key player in the global entertainment and innovation space.
“Lagos is surrounded by water and has ample logistical capacity. Visitors and participants will enjoy the warmth of our environment and the unique hospitality Lagos offers,” he added.
The governor praised the choice of Drogba as the tournament’s ambassador, stating that the former Chelsea striker is a widely respected figure not just in football but also in talent development across Africa.
“Drogba is an inspiration and an icon whose name opens doors,” Sanwo-Olu said, expressing gratitude to Afreximbank and the E1 Racing team for their vision.
Drogba revealed that discussions about introducing electric boat racing to Africa began in Riyadh, where his team met with the E1 Racing Team.
The Ivorian football legend said he was particularly interested in the sport’s sustainability aspect, stressing that Africa is eager to drive positive change through the initiative.
“When we discussed this new sport, we insisted that Africa must not be left out. We want to be involved and see how it can work here. Sustainability is key, as our continent is looking forward to the positive changes we need to implement,” Drogba said.
“As a public figure in Africa, I believe I can use my influence to make this sport impactful on the continent. Whether it is for sustainability or for inspiring future athletes, we will use our platform to show that it is possible.”
“Africa has some of the best athletes in the world. I believe Lagos is ready to compete in this sport. We have come here to gain the government’s support because we need to start strong. We must send a message to the world that the competition is here in Lagos, and we can replicate it anywhere.”