President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Team Nigeria to compete with courage, discipline and integrity at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, urging the country’s athletes to make the nation proud through fair competition and sportsmanship.
The President gave the charge on Thursday during the Presidential Send-off Ceremony for the Nigerian contingent at the State House in Abuja. He was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Addressing the athletes ahead of their departure, Tinubu described them as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria’s resilience, talent and determination, expressing confidence that they would deliver outstanding performances on the global stage.
Team Nigeria was led to the ceremony by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, alongside the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shuaibu.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s success at the Games must be built on honesty and respect for the rules, warning against any conduct capable of tarnishing the country’s reputation.
“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.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to clean sports, Tinubu highlighted recent reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s anti-doping framework.
“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.
The President assured the athletes of the Federal Government’s full support and expressed optimism that the team would surpass Nigeria’s best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games.
“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,” he stated.
Earlier, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko thanked the President for approving the ceremonial send-off and commended his administration’s commitment to repositioning Nigerian sports.
“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,” Dikko said.
He also praised the signing of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act into law and the inauguration of the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre, describing both as evidence of the administration’s determination to protect Nigerian athletes and preserve the country’s reputation in international sports.
Also speaking, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade said the President’s leadership had attracted increasing private-sector investment into 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.
On behalf of the athletes, Team Nigeria captain Oluwafemi Ayo Folashade pledged that the contingent would represent the country with honour and restore national pride.
The 72-member Nigerian delegation will compete in 10 sporting events at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with officials expressing confidence that the team will return home with a record medal haul while upholding the values of discipline, fairness and excellence.
