The National Sports Commission (NSC) has charged Team Nigeria‘s contingent to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, to be worthy ambassadors of the country and represent Nigeria with pride, discipline and patriotism.
The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, gave the charge during the team’s send-off ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, urging the young athletes to maximise the opportunity to compete at the first Youth Olympic Games to be hosted in Africa.
Olopade encouraged the athletes to use the competition as a platform to develop their careers and set bigger goals ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States.
He also assured them of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to supporting their growth and development in sports and education.
“The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar are historic, and you are making history by being part of the first Olympic Games to be held in Africa. I am confident that these Games will mark the beginning of greatness for all of you,” Olopade said.
“We have selected you to represent the country in your various sports because you represent the core of our future stars. I want you all to remain focused, disciplined and passionate about your careers.”
NSC highlights grassroots developmentOlopade said the Commission had placed significant emphasis on grassroots sports development through strategic initiatives designed to identify and nurture young talents across the country.
He cited the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) programme as one of the initiatives providing opportunities for emerging Nigerian athletes to gain exposure and develop their potential.
According to him, the Dakar Games would offer some of the young athletes identified through the programme an opportunity to showcase their abilities on the international stage.
The athletes appeared in Nigeria’s green-and-white national kits during the ceremony, where the NSC formally handed the contingent over to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) ahead of their scheduled departure for Dakar on Thursday.
NOC assures athletes of supportReceiving the contingent, NOC President Habu Gumel assured the Commission that the athletes would receive the necessary support during the competition.
Gumel said the NOC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would ensure the athletes were well cared for in Dakar. He also urged them to uphold the principles of clean sport throughout the Games.
He expressed confidence that the athletes would represent Nigeria responsibly and return home after the competition.
The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, bringing together more than 2,700 young athletes from around the world to compete across various sports.
The event marks the first time an Olympic competition will be hosted on African soil, making it a significant milestone for the continent’s sporting development.