Sunday Dare Salutes Team Nigeria’s Glasgow Success, Applauds Tinubu, NSC For Sustaining Sporting Momentum

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has congratulated Team Nigeria on its impressive performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, describing the achievement as further proof that the country’s sports development programme is yielding results.

Dare said Team Nigeria’s performance demonstrated the benefits of continuity in sports administration, expressing satisfaction that the National Sports Commission (NSC) had continued to build on reforms initiated during his tenure as Sports Minister between 2019 and 2023.

“I join millions of Nigerians in congratulating our athletes, coaches and officials on their wonderful performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” Dare said.

“I am particularly delighted that the National Sports Commission is building on the foundation we laid, and the results are now manifestly clear with our impressive outing in Glasgow.”

He noted that Team Nigeria had successfully retained its status as Africa’s highest-ranked nation at the Commonwealth Games, a position the country reclaimed at the Birmingham 2022 Games after last achieving a top-four overall finish in 1994.

“For the first time since 1994, when Nigeria finished fourth overall, Team Nigeria emerged as Africa’s best-performing nation at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. I am delighted that this remarkable achievement has now been sustained in Glasgow.

“It is gratifying to see that the team has maintained that upward trajectory in Glasgow. This consistency shows that Nigeria is making steady progress in sports development and that sustained investment and continuity will continue to deliver positive results.”

Dare also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as unwavering support for sports through increased investment, improved funding and a strong commitment to youth development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to investing in Nigerian youths and for renewing the hopes of our sportsmen and women,” he said.

“The President has demonstrated that sports remain an important vehicle for youth empowerment, national unity and international prestige. His administration’s support has given our athletes renewed confidence to compete and succeed on the global stage.”

The former Sports Minister equally commended National Sports Commission Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for maintaining the momentum in the country’s sports development drive.

“I congratulate Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade for keeping the flag flying high. They have shown commitment to consolidating on the progress already made, and I have no doubt that even greater successes await Nigerian sports.”

Dare expressed confidence that Nigeria’s sporting future would continue to flourish if the current level of government support, sound administration and investment in youth development were sustained.

“I believe the future is even brighter for Nigerian youths. If we continue to invest in our young talents, strengthen our sports institutions and maintain the current level of support, Nigeria will continue to produce champions and achieve even greater success on the continental and global stage,” he added.