The Federal Government has charged Team Nigeria to surpass its performance at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as National Sports Commission chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and director general, Bukola Olopade, arrived in Glasgow to personally oversee the country’s campaign at the 2026 edition.

The duo travelled to Scotland on a direct presidential mission to ensure the seamless execution of Team Nigeria’s quest for podium success, following a charge delivered on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The mandate was handed down in Abuja during a send-off ceremony, where the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, presented the President’s message to the departing contingent, urging the athletes to channel the Nigerian spirit and assuring them of the Federal Government’s commitment to their success and post-tournament rewards.

“Go out there, win medals, and wait for a grateful nation to reward you. The President is solidly behind you. He wants you to make Nigeria proud by winning laurels,” Gbajabiamila said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, reinforced the directive, stressing that the objective in Glasgow was absolute excellence and tasking the Commission’s leadership to maintain focus, eliminate distractions and surpass Nigeria’s historic performance at the Birmingham 2022 Games.

“The President is solidly behind Team Nigeria. The assignment is clear: go to Glasgow, win medals, and make Nigeria proud,” Dare said.

In Glasgow, the Commission’s leadership has adopted a dual approach to maximise Nigeria’s impact both on and off the field, with Dikko leading the country’s high-level engagements at the Commonwealth Games Federation and ministerial roundtables to advance Nigeria’s sports diplomacy and policy interests, while Olopade, serving as Nigeria’s Chef de Mission, directs day-to-day operations covering logistics, medical support and athlete welfare throughout the Games.

Team Nigeria is represented by 72 athletes competing across ten sporting disciplines, including athletics, three-a-side basketball, three-a-side wheelchair basketball, judo, boxing, track cycling, weightlifting, swimming, para powerlifting and para athletics. With the contingent now fully settled in the Games Village and events under way, morale within the camp is said to be high, buoyed by meticulous high-performance preparation, upgraded welfare incentives and presidential backing, with the Commission expressing confidence that Team Nigeria is primed to deliver a record-breaking performance in Glasgow.