The President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, thinks that Team Nigeria's success at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow gives important lessons for sports in Nigeria.
Besides the medals and the great performances by our athletes, Mr Akpata said the rise of new talent from structured grassroots programs is a major highlight from Nigeria’s time at the Games.
In a chat with PREMIUM TIMES during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Mr Akpata praised the spirit within Team Nigeria. He described the unity and support among the athletes as a good sign for the future of sports in the country.
"We are doing very well, but more importantly, you can see new talents coming through. The whole atmosphere, we are one big family. Everyone is doing well, and everyone has been supported," Mr Akpata said.
"But more importantly, we’re beginning to see some people come out from specific, dedicated grassroots and development programmes. To me, that’s a winner anytime."
For Mr Akpata, the benefits from Glasgow go beyond just the results. He believes that building a stronger foundation around talent discovery and athlete growth will shape Nigeria’s long-term success globally.
He also pointed out the level of preparation before the Games as another positive step. He noted that proper planning helped Nigerian athletes compete well against top athletes in the Commonwealth.
"I think at the end of the day, coming into these Games, there was about three or four weeks of camp in Abuja. Then I understand we went to Edinburgh before coming here. Preparation has been top-notch, and you can see that based on the quality," he said.
The former Senior Partner at PWC added that better teamwork between sports authorities and federations has created a stronger platform for athletes to thrive.
"Obviously, the bulk always starts and stops with the commission, and you can see that there’s been a coordinated effort to work with the various federations to bring the teams on board," Mr Akpata said.
"Everybody is working together. There is still a long way to go, but we’re all doing very well."
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