By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Team Nigeria’s Performance Director and Athletes Liaison, Victor Okorie, has praised the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) following the country’s impressive outing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where Nigeria finished sixth on the medals table with 24 medals.
Nigeria concluded its campaign with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals after nine days of competition, recording one of its most successful performances in Commonwealth Games history despite competing in only 10 sports.
Okorie attributed the achievement to the resilience of Nigerian athletes and the strategic leadership of NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, whom he commended for prioritizing athlete welfare, quality preparation and high-performance development.
He said the Commission’s support created an enabling environment that allowed athletes to compete with confidence and determination on the international stage.
“This historic accomplishment did not happen by chance. It is the product of visionary leadership, strategic planning and an unwavering commitment to the success of Nigerian athletes,” Okorie said.
He noted that the athletes were motivated by the renewed focus on their welfare and preparation, adding that the confidence inspired by the Commission’s leadership translated into outstanding performances across several sporting events.
Okorie also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s continued support for sports development, describing the Glasgow performance as proof of what Nigerian athletes can achieve when provided with the right backing.
According to him, the campaign was particularly remarkable because Glasgow 2026 featured only 10 sports, compared to previous Commonwealth Games editions where athletes competed in about 19 or 20 sports.
He observed that despite the reduced medal opportunities, Team Nigeria still secured 10 gold medals, only two fewer than previous editions with almost twice the number of sporting events.
“What makes this achievement truly exceptional is not just the number of medals won, but the circumstances under which they were won. Glasgow 2026 stands as an exceptional Commonwealth Games campaign for Nigeria. It is a triumph of quality over quantity, excellence over circumstance and determination over limitation,” he said.
Okorie, however, stressed that the success should serve as a platform for greater achievements rather than a reason for complacency.
With preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games expected to begin in earnest, he urged sustained investment in athlete development, high-performance programmes and sports infrastructure to build on the momentum generated in Glasgow.
He described the Commonwealth Games campaign as the beginning of a new era for Nigerian sports, expressing confidence that the country could achieve even greater success on the Olympic stage if current reforms and investments are sustained.
Team Nigeria’s Glasgow 2026 campaign featured several standout performances, including Commonwealth titles, Games records, historic podium finishes, personal bests and breakthrough displays by a new generation of athletes.
The National Sports Commission is expected to consolidate the gains from the Games as it shifts attention to strengthening Nigeria’s high-performance sports system ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
