President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday formally sent off Team Nigeria ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, urging the athletes to represent the country with honour, discipline and excellence as they prepare to compete on the global stage.
The send off ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Femi Gbajabiamila, charged the athletes to see themselves as ambassadors of the nation and carry the hopes of millions of Nigerians with pride.
Gbajabiamila told the contingent that while medals remain an important target, the integrity and reputation of the country must never be compromised. He urged the athletes to compete fairly, maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship and steer clear of any form of misconduct, including doping.
According to him, wearing the green and white comes with a responsibility that goes beyond personal ambition, as the team would be representing more than 200 million Nigerians at the Games.
After the ceremony at the Villa, Team Nigeria, sports officials and key stakeholders moved to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where global sportswear brand PUMA was officially unveiled as the team’s new kit partner for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The unveiling ceremony formed part of the National Sports Commission’s wider efforts to reposition Nigerian sports and ensure that the country’s elite athletes receive world class support ahead of major international competitions.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the events reflected the commission’s commitment to giving Team Nigeria the best possible support as they prepare for the Games. He said the commission had worked hard to provide the athletes with the right environment, encouragement and backing needed to perform at their best.
Dikko expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make the country proud, saying the athletes had the full support of the commission as they head to Glasgow.
Also speaking, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, made it clear that discipline and proper conduct would remain a major condition throughout the competition.
He warned that any athlete or official found engaging in indiscipline, doping or any act capable of tarnishing the image of Nigeria would face strict sanctions, including possible expulsion from the contingent.
Olopade stressed that representing Nigeria is both a privilege and a serious responsibility, adding that everyone connected with the team must conduct themselves properly both on and off the field of play.
Several prominent figures were present at the ceremonies, including former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Chief Solomon Ogba, Director General of the National Institute for Sports, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, former basketball star Olumide Oyedeji, athletics legend Mary Onyali, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Anti Doping Centre, Mallam Mainasara Ilo, alongside other sports administrators, former internationals and stakeholders.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2. Team Nigeria is expected to compete in 10 sports, with 74 athletes set to represent the country in the bid to win honours for the nation.
