LAGOS is set to make history this weekend as the bustling Nigerian metropolis hosts the E1 Lagos Grand Prix, the first-ever all-electric powerboat racing event on the African continent.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the race, which takes place on Five Cowrie Creek, marks the penultimate round of the global E1 World Championship before the season finale in Miami later this year.
Previous editions of the high-profile electric powerboat series have been held in glamorous cities such as Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, and Miami.
The Lagos Grand Prix will feature nine elite teams owned by international celebrities, including American basketball legend LeBron James, tennis icon Rafael Nadal, and Ivory Coast football great Didier Drogba, who co-owns a team with his partner, Gabrielle Lemaire.
Drogba and Lemaire were instrumental in bringing the championship to Africa, after engaging Lagos State officials earlier this year to secure the mega-event. Drogba is expected to grace the race weekend personally.
“Bringing E1 to Africa represents a pivotal moment in our mission to grow electric racing globally,” said Rodi Basso, founder and CEO of E1. “Lagos brings incredible energy, creativity, and ambition that matches E1’s DNA perfectly.”
According to Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the decision to bring the race to Nigeria’s commercial hub was taken after the Lagos State Governor witnessed an earlier edition in Monaco.
“Drogba’s team came to us around March and proposed to have this championship here. It’s the first time the E1 series is coming to Africa, and Lagos is proud to be the host,” Omotoso told AFP.
While Nigeria has a reputation for frequent power blackouts, Omotoso assured fans and participants that there would be no power failure during the event.
In preparation, the Lagos State Government embarked on a major environmental clean-up, clearing plastic and waste from the lagoon.
Authorities also barricaded 28 waste entry points along the waterways to ensure a pristine race environment, said Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, general manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority.
With the combination of global star power, cutting-edge electric racing technology, and Lagos’s vibrant energy, the E1 Grand Prix promises to be a spectacle that will not only entertain but also shine a spotlight on Nigeria as a hub for international sporting events.
