Nigeria has taken a bold step toward hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, marking a potential historic milestone as the first African nation to hold the prestigious event since its inception in 1930. The country welcomed the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee to Abuja on Thursday, a visit aimed at assessing Nigeria’s readiness to host a world-class, inclusive, and diverse Games on African soil.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, formally received the delegation at the Presidential Villa. The President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to delivering a Games that would not only showcase athletic excellence but also leave a lasting legacy for youth and national development. “Africa has waited nearly a century for this moment, and Nigeria is ready to rise to the occasion,” Gbajabiamila told the delegation, conveying the President’s full support and a written Letter of Guarantee endorsing the bid.
The visit underscored Nigeria’s renewed focus on sports as a strategic driver of national growth. President Tinubu has repositioned sports governance by scrapping the Ministry of Sports and establishing the National Sports Commission, a move aimed at streamlining sports development and ensuring that infrastructure, security, and hospitality requirements are met well ahead of schedule. Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Commission, emphasized that Africa’s 21 Commonwealth nations make a strong case for Nigeria to host, highlighting the country’s role as the continent’s sporting giant.
The Nigerian delegation, which included Habu Gumel, President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, and Mainasara Illo, Chairman of the Bid Committee, presented detailed proposals for the Games. These plans feature 15 sports, with football introduced to boost global visibility and audience engagement. The delegation made it clear that Nigeria intends to host an environmentally sustainable event that reflects the nation’s capacity for large-scale, high-quality sporting events.
Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at Commonwealth Sport, expressed admiration for the country’s preparations and the passion of its people. He noted that as the Commonwealth approaches its 100-year milestone, greater diversity and inclusion are central to its mission, and Nigeria’s bid embodies those values. With India also in contention, the decision on the host city is expected from the Commonwealth Games General Assembly in November 2025.
Officials from the federal government, including Ministers of Information, Aviation, Arts and Culture, Housing, and Police Affairs, participated in the strategic discussions, underscoring the all-encompassing national support for the bid. Observers suggest that Nigeria’s push to host the Games is about more than sports; it is a statement of Africa’s rising influence on the global stage, and an opportunity to inspire young athletes while boosting tourism, infrastructure, and international recognition.
If successful, Nigeria’s hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games would not only be historic but would also provide a lasting platform for youth empowerment, economic development, and continental pride, ensuring that Africa finally claims its long-overdue moment in the Commonwealth sporting arena.
STONEREPORTERS NEWSROOM 📝
📩 For more details on this and other stories, visit stonereportersnews.com
🌍 Contact us: info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNews
Add comment
Comments