In a major boost for Nigeria’s medal prospects at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), have officially secured a strategic partnership with the British Cycling Association.
The collaborative framework is designed to support the development of cycling in Nigeria and to also provide Team Nigeria cyclists with world-class technical support, elite coaching, and high-performance training facilities in Manchester as they prepare for the games.
The British Cycling Association delegation was led by Commercial Strategy Manager, Izza Ourzik. Responding, NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko, assured the delegation of the Commission’s support towards the actualisation of the set goals.
“Our job here is to provide enablers for sports development in the country. We will make the soil fertile for well-meaning endeavours such as this to thrive,” he said. “This is a collaboration that will make our society better in the long term.”
“Cycling is not just a sport in the country, You see bikes everywhere. For us, it is a way of life. Cycling is seen more as an elitist sport but that is not so. This is a populous nation with abundance of talents.”
“We have to join forces to take this sport to the schools and grassroots and make it less elitist. Let’s take cycling to the people. Let them own it,” he added.
Also, the NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to advancing cycling due to its sporting and social value.
“At the Chef de mission meeting in Glasgow, I was told that cycling will be part of the sports to be competed for at the Commonwealth Games,” Olopade said. “I liaised with the CFN and informed that we have huge prospects in the sport.”
“So I quickly contacted Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board and we decided to include cycling as one of the sports we will be participating in at Glasgow.”
“I must point out that the CFN is one of the most vibrant Federations we have. This collaboration with the British Cycling Association will help us to render more support to this highly thriving sport,” he added.
Also at the meeting were members of the CFN led by its president, Giandomenico Massari.