By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and now Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has congratulated Team Nigeria on its outstanding performance at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, describing the achievement as evidence that the nation’s sports development agenda is on the right path.
Dare expressed delight that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has continued to build on the reforms and structures established 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. 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,” Dare said.
He noted that Team Nigeria has successfully maintained its status as Africa’s highest-ranked nation at the Commonwealth Games, a milestone first reclaimed at the Birmingham 2022 Games after Nigeria’s historic fourth-place overall finish at the 1994 Games.
“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.
“We first recorded this encouraging turnaround in Birmingham in 2022 when Team Nigeria finished seventh overall and reclaimed its place as Africa’s top-performing nation at the Commonwealth Games.
‘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 credited President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration for providing greater support to sports through improved funding, stronger institutional backing and sustained investment in youth development.
“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. 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 praised the leadership of National Sports Commission Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for sustaining the momentum and ensuring continuity in Nigeria’s sports development programme.
“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 with continued government support, sound administration and sustained investment in youth, Nigeria’s sporting future remains exceptionally bright.
“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.”
