Team Nigeria has officially begun its journey to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with President Bola Tinubu urging the country’s athletes to compete with integrity while the National Sports Commission (NSC) unveiled global sportswear brand PUMA as the team’s new official kit partner.
Speaking during the presidential send-off ceremony at the State House in Abuja, President Tinubu charged the athletes to pursue medals through discipline, hard work and fair play, reminding them that integrity is more valuable than victory achieved through dishonest means.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President challenged the contingent to surpass Nigeria’s best-ever Commonwealth Games performance while proudly representing the nation’s values on the global stage.
Tinubu also highlighted his administration’s efforts to strengthen clean sports in Nigeria, pointing to the Nigerian Anti-Doping Act and the inauguration of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Centre’s governing board as key steps toward protecting the country’s sporting reputation. He urged the athletes to remain united and avoid actions that could tarnish Nigeria’s image during the Games.
Ahead of the team’s departure, the NSC officially unveiled PUMA as Team Nigeria’s new kit partner during a ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The partnership is expected to provide athletes with world-class competition and training apparel while strengthening the commercial profile of Nigerian sports. Officials described the agreement as a significant milestone in attracting more international investment into the country’s sports sector.
Team Nigeria will compete across 10 sporting disciplines in Glasgow and is aiming to improve on its strong showing at the previous Commonwealth Games. Sports administrators expressed confidence that the combination of better preparation, increased government support and enhanced private-sector partnerships will translate into another successful outing.
With the athletes now set for Scotland, expectations are high that Team Nigeria can deliver a memorable campaign while showcasing excellence, discipline and sportsmanship on one of the Commonwealth’s biggest sporting stages.
