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 athletes to pursue victory through fair play and uphold the country’s reputation on the global stage.
The President gave the charge on Thursday during the Presidential Send-off Ceremony at the State House, Abuja, where he was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, ahead of the team’s departure for the Games.
Addressing the athletes, Tinubu described them as ambassadors of Nigeria’s resilience, talent and determination, expressing confidence that they would make the country proud through outstanding performances.
“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,” he said.
The President reminded the athletes that they would be representing not only themselves but also the values and image of Nigeria before the international community.
“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 nothing like that must happen this time around. That experience must be a lesson for all of us,” he added.
Tinubu urged the contingent to reject all forms of cheating and doping, stressing that integrity remains more valuable than medals.
“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,” he said.
The President said his administration remains committed to promoting clean sports, recalling that he signed the Nigeria Anti-Doping Act into law and approved the inauguration of the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre to strengthen the country’s anti-doping framework.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at ensuring Nigerian athletes compete without suspicion while safeguarding the country’s credibility in international 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 stated.
Tinubu assured the athletes of the support of the Federal Government and Nigerians throughout the competition and challenged them to surpass the country’s best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games.
Leading the delegation to the State House were the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko; the Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade; and the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shuaibu.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Dikko commended the President for what he described as unprecedented support for sports development, saying the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda has repositioned sports as a tool for youth empowerment, economic growth, national unity and global visibility.
Olopade also praised Tinubu’s leadership, saying the renewed focus on sports has begun attracting significant private-sector investment, including support from global sportswear company PUMA.
Team Nigeria captain, Oluwafemi Ayo Folashade, pledged that the athletes would represent the country with honour and strive to restore Nigeria’s sporting glory.
Nigeria will compete with a 72-member contingent across 10 sporting events at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with officials expressing optimism that Team Nigeria will return home with a record medal haul while upholding the principles of discipline, fairness and excellence.
