Compete With Honour, Win Clean At 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tinubu Tells Team Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has urged Team Nigeria to compete with integrity, discipline and patriotism at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, stressing that success should be achieved fairly and without compromising the country’s reputation.

The President gave the charge during a ceremonial send-off for the 72-member Nigerian contingent at the State House in Abuja, where he encouraged the athletes to pursue excellence while upholding the highest standards of sportsmanship.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu described the athletes as ambassadors of Nigeria’s resilience, talent and determination. He said the country’s image on the global stage would depend not only on the medals won but also on the manner in which they were earned.

He reminded the athletes that they had trained and sacrificed for the opportunity to represent Nigeria and urged them to travel to Glasgow with confidence, unity, discipline and patriotism. He also referred to the country’s experience at the previous Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, saying any past mistakes should serve as lessons to ensure similar incidents do not occur again.

The President emphasised that every medal should reflect dedication, hard work and respect for the rules, noting that while winning is important, winning fairly is even more valuable. According to him, integrity is priceless, and the true glory of victory comes only when it is achieved through discipline, fairness and respect for the principles of sport.

He urged every member of Team Nigeria to compete courageously while avoiding any actions that could tarnish the country’s image, adding that the global sporting community now places significant importance on integrity and compliance with anti-doping regulations.

Tinubu also highlighted steps taken by his administration to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-doping framework. He recalled signing the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act into law and inaugurating the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre, describing both actions as major milestones in protecting the credibility of Nigerian sports.

According to the President, the reforms demonstrate the government’s determination to build a sports system in which athletes can achieve success without suspicion and where Nigeria is recognised not only for sporting talent but also for discipline, integrity and excellence.

He assured the athletes of the full support of the Federal Government and Nigerians throughout the competition and expressed confidence that Team Nigeria has the ability to surpass the country’s best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games.

Earlier, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, thanked the President for approving the official send-off ceremony and praised the administration for giving unprecedented attention and policy support to sports development.

He said the Renewed Hope Initiative had repositioned sports as a driver of youth development, economic growth, national unity, investment, diplomacy and global visibility. Dikko also commended the signing of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act and the inauguration of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre’s board, describing them as clear evidence of the government’s commitment to protecting athletes and Nigeria’s international sporting reputation.

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, said an impressive performance at the Games would attract greater private-sector investment into Nigerian sports. He disclosed that global sportswear company PUMA had challenged the team to perform well and expressed confidence that Team Nigeria would deliver outstanding results.

Team captain Oluwafemi Folashade assured the President that the athletes would represent Nigeria with honour and do everything possible to restore the country’s sporting pride.

The 72-member Nigerian contingent will compete in 10 sporting events at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Nigeria aims to achieve its highest-ever medal haul while promoting the values of discipline, fairness and excellence on the international stage.