British High Commission Backs Nigeria’s 2034 Commonwealth Games Ambition

Posted : 09 August 2026

The British High Commission in Nigeria has expressed its readiness to deepen collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), following Team Nigeria’s impressive performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The development could further strengthen Nigeria’s ambition to host the Commonwealth Games in 2034, with NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, using the occasion to solicit the support of the British High Commission for the country’s bid.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, stated this when the Commission hosted members of Team Nigeria, including athletes and officials, in Abuja to celebrate their achievements in Glasgow.

Montgomery described Nigeria as a major component of the Commonwealth family, saying the country once again demonstrated its sporting strength by emerging as Africa’s best-performing nation at the Games.

The High Commissioner commended the athletes for making the country proud and also acknowledged the contributions of their coaches and officials to the successful campaign.

“The Nigerian athletes did a fantastic job to make Nigeria proud and we are also very proud of them, which is why we are celebrating them today,” he said.

He added that the performance of Team Nigeria demonstrated the country’s potential to achieve even greater success on the global sporting stage.

“Team Nigeria showed its global stature once again at the Glasgow Games with all the medals it won and we have no doubt that Nigeria does have the potential to do even more,” Montgomery said.

He further expressed the Commission’s willingness to strengthen its partnership with the NSC in supporting the transformation of Nigerian sports.

“From the High Commission here in Abuja, we are even more enthused to collaborate and partner with the National Sports Commission in every positive way to further smoothen the ongoing transformation of Nigerian sports,” he stated.

Dikko, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the British High Commission for its support to Team Nigeria before and during the Glasgow Games, particularly its assistance with visa processing and other diplomatic arrangements for athletes, officials and supporters.

He also commended Glasgow and the people of Scotland for providing a conducive environment for the Games.

“We commend Glasgow and the people of Scotland for being excellent hosts. The reception further demonstrated the enduring friendship and growing collaboration between the government and people of Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” Dikko said.

According to him, Team Nigeria’s campaign was highly successful, with the country winning 10 gold medals and finishing seventh overall on the medal table.

He noted that Nigeria accounted for 10 of the 22 gold medals won by African countries at the Games, while Nigerian athletes also set three of the six world records recorded during the competition.

Dikko said the Glasgow Games provided Nigerian athletes with an important platform to compete against some of the world’s best and constituted a crucial part of the country’s preparations for future international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

“These successes clearly validate the progress in Nigerian sports, driven by the bold and decisive transformational reforms of Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” he said.

The NSC Chairman subsequently called for the support of the British High Commission as Nigeria pursues its ambition to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games, building on the country’s strong performance and its longstanding relationship with the Commonwealth family.

The renewed engagement between the NSC and the British High Commission is expected to further strengthen sporting and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom as Nigeria seeks a greater role in the hosting and organisation of major international sporting events.

British High Commission Backs Nigeria’s 2034 Commonwealth Games Ambition

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