Team Nigeria athletes preparing for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland have showered encomiums on the National Sports Commission (NSC) for what they described as unprecedented support, quality preparation, and improved welfare ahead of the prestigious multi-sport event.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Special Assistant (Media) to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Kola Daniel, Team Nigeria Captain and Paralympic Champion, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who led the athletes in expressing their appreciation, commended the Commission for creating a conducive environment that has allowed the athletes to focus fully on their preparations.

The world record holder described the NSC’s approach as athlete-centred, noting that the timely provision of training facilities, quality kits, improved welfare packages, accommodation, medical support, and overall logistics has significantly boosted the confidence and morale of the contingent.

“We are genuinely impressed with the level of preparation. The welfare has been excellent, our training facilities have been top quality, the kits are ready, and every athlete feels valued. The National Sports Commission has demonstrated a genuine commitment to ensuring that Team Nigeria is adequately prepared to compete at the highest level. We sincerely appreciate the leadership of the Commission for this remarkable support,” Oluwafemiayo said.

Other members of Team Nigeria echoed the captain’s sentiments, describing the atmosphere within the camp as one filled with optimism, unity, and determination to make Nigeria proud in Glasgow.

The athletes noted that the Commission’s early planning has eliminated many of the challenges that previously affected Nigeria’s participation at major international competitions. They pledged to reciprocate the confidence reposed in them by delivering outstanding performances and bringing home medals for the country.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026, bringing together athletes from across the Commonwealth to compete in a streamlined programme featuring ten sports and an integrated para-sport competition.

Nigeria heads into the Games as one of Africa’s leading sporting nations after an impressive outing at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Team Nigeria is expected to compete strongly across athletics, weightlifting, boxing, wrestling and para-sports, with several reigning champions and world-class athletes targeting podium finishes.

Folashade Oluwafemiayo (female) and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (male) will captain the contingent, while the National Sports Commission has emphasised meticulous planning, early camping, athlete welfare and technical support as the pillars of the country’s medal ambitions.

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Team Uganda received a significant boost in its preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC) donated locally produced Tooke nutritional products to the different national teams.

The handover included a range of Ugandan-made Tooke products, including Power Cookies, Sportsman Biscuits, milkshake, Tooke infusions and Tooke porridge flour, all developed from locally sourced bananas to provide natural, sustainable nutrition for high-performance sport.

The products were officially handed over at the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and Commonwealth Games Uganda headquarters in Lugogo by Professor Isabirye Muranga, the UOC/Commonwealth Games Uganda Nutrition Ambassador and Director General of BIRDC/PIBID.

Speaking at the handover, Professor Muranga underscored the importance of nutrition in elite sport, saying it is as essential as training and mental preparation.

She has emphasized the vital role of proper nutrition, discipline, and homegrown innovation in enhancing athletic performance, while encouraging the athletes to proudly represent Uganda on the global stage.

“Proper nutrition is a key ingredient in achieving excellence in sport. Alongside training, discipline and mental preparation, quality nutrition plays a vital role in improving athletes’ performance and recovery,” she said.

Muranga explained that the partnership is intended to provide science-based, locally manufactured nutritional solutions that meet the needs of Ugandan athletes while promoting homegrown innovation.

“We want to develop nutritional products that are tailored to our athletes using locally available resources. This initiative also demonstrates the capacity of Ugandan innovation to support high-performance sport,” she added.

She further urged the athletes to represent Uganda with pride, uphold discipline and integrity, reject all forms of competition manipulation and betting, and remain focused on their goals.

Uganda Olympic Committee President Dr. Donald Rukare welcomed the donation, noting that the Tooke products will support athletes throughout their Commonwealth Games preparations.

“This partnership not only strengthens our athletes’ preparation but also showcases the potential of Ugandan-made products in supporting high-performance sport,” said Dr. Rukare.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to connecting science, agriculture, innovation and sport while showcasing Ugandan-made nutritional products on the global stage.

Team Uganda, comprising 55 athletes from 10 sports federations, is continuing its training programme ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which begin on 23 July 2026.

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Norah Namakembo, 5, is a Top class pupil at Heartland Kids School in Najjembe – Mabira, Buikwe District; central Uganda.

For starters, the Mabira is arguably the largest natural rainforest in Uganda and the entire East Africa with an estimated 74,000 acres covering a distance of about 300 square kilometres.

It is a sunny Thursday morning as Namakembo is among the chosen Senior Green Ambassadors who are planting varying tree species in a depleted section of this forest at Mubango local village in Najjembe Township as a strategy to reafforestrate the affected encroached area by residents.

Carrying the placard that read SCOTLAND, the hosts of the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026, Namakembo is among the 74 school representatives for the 74 countries and territories that make up the Great Commonwealth, Uganda inclusive.

“I am proud and happy to have planted a tree in Mabira in this Commonwealth Forest Initiative project. I will ask my parents and teachers to let me come and always check on it as it grows” Namakembo boldly asserted.

This vivid tree-planting campaign is code-named “Commonwealth Forest Initiative” organized by the Commonwealth Association Uganda, in conjunction with the National Forestry Authority (NFA), the ministry of Water and Environment, Parliament of Uganda and the implementing partner, Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green.

This campaign is heavily embedded along the theme-line “A climate legacy for the 2026 Commonwealth Games”.

For any given successful project at hand, the take off stage is very vital for its sustainability and eventual prosperity.

The official launch of this Commonwealth Forest Initiative was well graced with the president of Commonwealth Sport Dr. Donald Rukare in attendance.

He was flanked by the Member of Parliament for Bulambuli constituency Hon. Emmanuel  Biara Wapukhulu (representing the Speaker of Parliament), officials from Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda Olympic Committee General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru and other executive committee members,  the Mubango Najjembe Local Council 1 chairperson Safiyi Magomu, officials from Uganda’s Littele Hands Go Green, pupils and their teachers, local residents as well as the media personalities.

“The soft launch of the Commonwealth Forest Initiative marks the beginning of an ambitious long-term environmental legacy programme that seeks to connect all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories through forest restoration, climate action, biodiversity conservation, and youth engagement.” Dr Rukare remarked.

As part of the launch, 74 indigenous trees were planted in Mabira Forest to represent the 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

Gallant pupils from Heartland Kids School Mabira, Mother Majeri Primary School Bweyogerere and Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kisaasi were engaged in this exercise

Today is one of these special days where our dream has become a reality. Together with our team, we came up with a dream scenario of creating a Commonwealth Forest as a way of restoring some of the forest cover in our country. We sat down with the stakeholders and discussed at length how we could create the Commonwealth Forest where every country in the Commonwealth could be able to own a little bit of Mabira Forest. Today, we have witnessed a beginning of a journey where 74 trees have been planted. Beyond this, is the commitment that each of the athlete and para-athlete could have a tree planted in Mabira. Initially, we have set aside 7 acres in Mabira where more trees will be planted and It could be increased as the project goes along depending on demand. The biggest win is having the young children involved in the project. The trees will serve as a living symbol of unity, shared responsibility, and collective action in addressing the global climate crisis.

Joseph Mary Masembe, Team Lead at Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green

Legislator Hon. Wapukhulu commended the Commonwealth Forest Initiative and pledged support through lobbying from the Parliamentary vote allocated to natural resources.

Since its establishment in 2012, Little Hands Go Green has mobilised millions of children and communities across Uganda to participate in environmental conservation activities, including tree planting, climate education, and ecosystem restoration.

The organization’s work has received support and recognition from national and international leaders, including H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom Owwek. Charles Peter Mayiga, His Majesty King Oyo of Tooro, former Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah (RIP), former Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, and Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, among others.

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