President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Nigerian athletes participating in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, to compete with courage, discipline, honour, and integrity, urging them to make the country proud through fair and clean competition.
The President gave the charge during a Presidential Send-off Ceremony held at the State House, Abuja, ahead of Team Nigeria’s departure for the Games. He was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Tinubu described the athletes as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria’s resilience and talent, expressing confidence in their ability to deliver strong performances on the global stage.
He urged them to uphold the values of patriotism and sportsmanship, stressing that while winning medals is important, doing so with integrity is even more significant.
According to the President, true victory is achieved through discipline, hard work, fairness, and respect for rules, adding that Nigeria must not be associated with unethical practices in sports.
Tinubu also highlighted his administration’s commitment to clean sports, noting recent reforms including the signing of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act and the inauguration of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre board.
He said these steps demonstrate Nigeria’s determination to build a sports system rooted in credibility, athlete protection, and international compliance.
The President assured Team Nigeria of the Federal Government’s full support and called on them to aim at surpassing the country’s best-ever Commonwealth Games performance.
He encouraged the athletes to remain focused under pressure, work as a united team, and proudly carry the national flag throughout the competition.
Officials of the National Sports Commission, including Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, commended the administration’s support for sports development and athlete welfare.
Team Nigeria, consisting of 72 athletes competing in 10 sports, is expected to represent the country at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
