Tinubu calls on Nigeria's athletes to shatter historic benchmark at Commonwealth Games

President Bola Tinubu has tasked Team Nigeria with surpassing the nation's previous best performance at the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, while also emphasizing the importance of competing with integrity, discipline, and patriotism.

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Through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President conveyed this message during the Presidential Send-off Ceremony at the State House, Abuja, as Team Nigeria prepares to depart for Glasgow, as stated in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

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Tinubu encouraged the athletes to make Nigeria proud through fair competition, describing them as worthy ambassadors of the nation's resilience, talent, and determination, with the goal of surpassing the country's best-ever Commonwealth Games performance.

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The President expressed confidence in the team's ability to achieve this feat, stating, "Our target is clear, we want Team Nigeria to surpass its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance, and I have every confidence that you possess the talent, determination, and character to achieve this historic feat."

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Tinubu advised the athletes to remain focused under pressure, respect their opponents, and carry the Green-White-Green flag with pride throughout the Games, having trained and sacrificed for this moment.

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He urged the team to go to Glasgow with confidence, discipline, and unity, and to remember that they are exporting the nation's values, including moral and core values, and that the experience from the previous Games in Birmingham should serve as a lesson.

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The President stressed that true victory is achieved through hard work, discipline, and fair play, and encouraged the athletes to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship throughout the Games.

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Tinubu emphasized the importance of competing with courage, honor, and integrity, stating, "I want you to compete with courage, honour, and integrity, win clean, and let every medal you earn reflect your commitment, your dedication, and the values that define our great nation."

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He reiterated that winning is important, but winning clean is more important, and that medals are valuable, but integrity is priceless, with the glory of victory only complete when achieved through discipline, fairness, hard work, and respect for the rules.

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The President charged the athletes to compete with courage, but also to compete clean, as one united team, driven by talent, training, discipline, and the Nigerian fighting spirit, and not to allow anyone to mislead them.

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Tinubu reiterated his administration's commitment to strengthening sports development through sustained investment in athletes and strict adherence to anti-doping regulations, having taken decisive steps to strengthen the anti-doping systems in the country.

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The President noted that he had assented to the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act, which provides a stronger legal and institutional framework for clean sports in Nigeria, and that the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre had been inaugurated, demonstrating the administration's commitment to clean sports, athlete protection, international compliance, and the credibility of Nigerian sports.

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Tinubu assured Team Nigeria of the Federal Government's support and the prayers of Nigerians throughout the competition, as the team 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.

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Dikko, speaking on behalf of the delegation, thanked the President for approving the send-off ceremony and for prioritizing sports development, stating that since the beginning of the administration, Nigerian sports had received unprecedented attention, support, and policy direction.

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Dikko commended Tinubu for signing the Nigeria Anti-Doping Act into law and for inaugurating the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre, describing these actions as evidence of the administration's commitment to clean sports.

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Olopade noted that the President's leadership had attracted increased private-sector investment in Nigerian sports, with PUMA, a global sportswear company, challenging the team to perform well in order to secure historical and unprecedented sponsorship.

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Team Nigeria captain Oluwafemi Ayo Folashade pledged that the athletes would represent the country with distinction and restore its honor, as the 72-member Nigerian contingent prepares to compete in 10 sports at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026.