President Tinubu To Officially Send Off Team Nigeria Ahead Of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will officially bid farewell to Team Nigeria on Thursday ahead of the contingent’s departure to the United Kingdom for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The send-off ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, forms part of the Federal Government’s demonstration of support for the nation’s athletes and officials as they embark on their quest for Commonwealth Games success.

During the event, President Tinubu is expected to charge the athletes to compete with honour, discipline and resilience, while urging them to uphold Nigeria’s proud sporting tradition and serve as worthy ambassadors of the country on the international stage.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) disclosed this in a statement signed by Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media to the Director-General, and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nigeria heads to Glasgow with high expectations after an outstanding performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Team Nigeria finished as Africa’s highest-ranked nation on the medals table. The country secured a total of 35 medals—12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze—to underline its status as one of the continent’s leading sporting nations.

In preparation for the Games, Team Nigeria has been holding an intensive training camp in Abuja, with athletes across the various disciplines undergoing rigorous sessions aimed at ensuring peak fitness and competitiveness.

The contingent is scheduled to depart Nigeria on Friday for Aberdeen, Scotland, where they will undertake a three-week acclimatisation and training programme before travelling to Glasgow for the opening of the Games.

Nigeria will be represented by 74 athletes competing across 10 sports, with the delegation targeting another impressive medal haul.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held from 23 July to 2 August, bringing together elite athletes from across the Commonwealth to compete for honours in a wide range of sporting events.

President Tinubu has consistently reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria and has repeatedly assured the country’s athletes of the Federal Government’s continued support. Thursday’s send-off ceremony is expected to further boost the morale of Team Nigeria as they prepare to carry the nation’s hopes onto one of the world’s biggest multi-sport stages.