President Bola Tinubu has charged Team Nigeria to surpass the country’s best-ever performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
He also urged the athletes to compete with integrity, discipline and patriotism.
The President gave the charge on Thursday through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during the Presidential Send-off Ceremony at the State House, Abuja, ahead of the team’s departure for Glasgow, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu urged the athletes to make Nigeria proud through fair competition, describing them as worthy ambassadors of the nation’s resilience, talent and determination.
“Our target is clear. We want Team Nigeria to surpass its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance. I have every confidence that you possess the talent, determination, and character to achieve this historic feat,” the President said.
He urged the athletes to remain focused under pressure, respect their opponents and carry the Green-White-Green flag with pride throughout the Games.
“You have trained for this moment. You have sacrificed for this moment. Go to Glasgow with confidence, discipline, and unity. Go with patriotism and with the mindset that Nigeria can stand with the very best in the world.
“We must remember that we’re exporting our values, our moral values, our core values as a nation. I know what happened last time in Birmingham, maybe perhaps an error of judgment, and that nothing like that will happen this time around, and that experience must be a lesson for all of us,” he said.
Tinubu stressed that true victory is achieved through hard work, discipline and fair play, urging the athletes to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship throughout the Games.
“I want you to compete with courage, honour, and integrity. Win clean. Let every medal you earn reflect your commitment, your dedication, and the values that define our great nation. Winning is important, but winning clean is more important. Medals are valuable, but integrity is priceless.
“The glory of victory is only complete when it is achieved through discipline, fairness, hard work and respect for the rules.
“I therefore charge every athlete here today to go to Glasgow and compete with courage, but also compete clean, compete as one united team. Let your performance be driven by talent, training, discipline and the Nigerian fighting spirit and do not allow anyone to mislead you. The world of sports today places great emphasis on integrity, and Nigeria must not be left behind,” he said.
The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening sports development through sustained investment in athletes and strict adherence to anti-doping regulations.
“Our administration has taken decisive steps to strengthen the anti-doping systems in the country. Last year, I assented to the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act, which provides a stronger legal and institutional framework for clean sports in Nigeria.
“Today, the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre has also been inaugurated, and this shows a clear statement of our administration’s commitment to clean sports, athlete protection, international compliance and the credibility of Nigerian sports.
“We are determined as a country to build a sports system where our athletes can succeed without suspicion, where our victories are respected, and where Nigeria is known not only for talent, but also for discipline, integrity and excellence,” he said.
Tinubu assured Team Nigeria of the Federal Government’s support and the prayers of Nigerians throughout the competition.
Team Nigeria was led to the State House by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, alongside the commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Dikko thanked the President for approving the send-off ceremony and for prioritising sports development.
“Since the beginning of your administration, Nigerian sports have received a level of attention, support and policy direction that is overwhelming and unprecedented.
“Through the Renewed Hope Initiative on the Nigerian sports economy, Your Excellency has given sports a new national initiative and focus to become a driver of youth development and economic growth, national unity, investment, diplomacy and global visibility,” he said.
Dikko also commended Tinubu for signing the Nigeria Anti-Doping Act into law, describing the inauguration of the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre as further evidence of the administration’s commitment to clean sports.
Also speaking, Olopade said the President’s leadership had attracted increased private-sector investment in Nigerian sports.
“Your Excellency, let me inform you that if we do well, the sponsorship that we will get is going to be historical and unprecedented, and PUMA, a global sportswear company, has challenged us in this direction, and I assure you that we will do well,” he said.
In her goodwill message, Team Nigeria captain Oluwafemi Ayo Folashade pledged that the athletes would represent the country with distinction and restore its honour.
The 72-member Nigerian contingent will compete in 10 sports at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, which run from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
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