Sports
Nigerians to Watch Team Nigeria Live as NSC, What Network Roll Out Free-to-Air Coverage
By Joel Ajayi
Millions of Nigerians will have the opportunity to watch Team Nigeria compete live at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, following a landmark partnership between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and What Network to provide nationwide free-to-air coverage of the Games.
The broadcast initiative was unveiled on Friday during a media briefing at the Media Centre of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, described the partnership as a significant step towards bringing the nation’s athletes closer to Nigerians at home and abroad.
Under the arrangement, What Network has secured the free-to-air broadcast rights for Nigeria and will deliver live coverage through the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), TV Continental (TVC) and other interested terrestrial television stations. The Games will also be streamed on digital platforms, including NSC TV on YouTube and What Network’s online channels, allowing fans to follow Team Nigeria’s campaign from anywhere in the world.
Olopade said the Commission was committed to ensuring that every Nigerian becomes part of Team Nigeria’s journey at the Commonwealth Games.
“Recognising the importance of bringing the Games into every Nigerian home, the National Sports Commission has partnered with What Network to deliver free-to-air coverage of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“Through this collaboration, every Nigerian will be able to follow Team Nigeria’s journey live and free, celebrating the dedication of our athletes and inspiring the next generation of sporting champions.”
According to him, coverage will begin with the Opening Ceremony on July 23 and continue throughout the competition, ensuring that all Team Nigeria events are accessible to viewers at no cost.
Beyond the live broadcasts, viewers will also enjoy a daily two-hour highlights programme featuring medal-winning performances, exclusive athlete interviews, key moments and behind-the-scenes content from Glasgow.
Olopade explained that the initiative goes beyond broadcasting, describing it as part of the Commission’s broader strategy to promote Nigerian sports, inspire young talents and unlock new commercial opportunities for athletes.
“We don’t care what it will cost. The important thing is that Nigerians, whether they are at home or abroad, should be able to watch and support our athletes live. When people watch sports, they become emotionally connected to the athletes, and that creates opportunities for sponsorships, endorsements and wealth creation,” he said.
He added that increased television exposure would encourage greater corporate investment in Nigerian sports while enabling families and communities across the country to support Team Nigeria throughout the Games.
The NSC Director General also challenged the athletes to deliver outstanding performances in Glasgow.
“I have told the athletes to go out there and compete for Nigeria. They should not just aim to win medals; they should aim to break world records. This is another step in our preparation towards the 2028 Olympic Games,” Olopade stated.
He further appealed to the media to support the Commission’s ongoing sports reforms, particularly efforts to reposition Nigerian football and strengthen the commercial value of the domestic league, stressing that a vibrant sports industry would benefit athletes, journalists, broadcasters and corporate partners.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Top Tier Sports Management and representative of What Network, Mrs. Chichi Nwoko, said the partnership was designed to eliminate barriers that prevent Nigerians from watching their national athletes compete on the international stage.
“We don’t want Nigerians to worry about subscriptions. Through our partnership with the NSC and NTA, the entire country will have access to Team Nigeria’s performances,” she said.
Nwoko disclosed that What Network would work closely with TVC to provide highlights and major moments from the Games, while extensive digital coverage would be delivered through NSC TV on YouTube and the network’s online platforms.
She described the Commonwealth Games as an important milestone on Nigeria’s journey to the Olympic Games, noting that young Nigerians should have the opportunity to follow and be inspired by the country’s athletes throughout the four-year Olympic cycle.
“We see the Commonwealth Games as part of Nigeria’s journey to the Olympics. Beyond television, we will provide highlights, short clips and real-time updates across our digital platforms. We are also encouraging the media to partner with us by using the highlight packages and clips to tell Team Nigeria’s story as it unfolds,” she added.
The partnership is expected to significantly boost nationwide interest in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, ensuring that millions of Nigerians can cheer on Team Nigeria live while celebrating the country’s quest for medals and record-breaking performances on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
Sports
NSC Disburses Another ₦300m Training Grants to 31 Elite Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympic Games
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disbursed approximately ₦300 million in quarterly training grants to more than 31 Nigerian elite athletes, providing early boost to the country’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The latest payment marks another milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen athletes’ welfare and ensure sustained preparations for major international competitions under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The latest disbursement is the fifth since the introduction of the quarterly training grants policy in 2025 through the NSC’s Elite and Podium Board, and the third payment made in 2026.
With the latest payment, the Commission has now disbursed more than ₦1 billion in training grants to Nigerian elite athletes over the past two years.
The initiative provides quarterly grants of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 to athletes, depending on their performance and eligibility under the scientific performance indicators established by the Elite and Podium Board.
The policy has been widely welcomed by some of the country’s leading athletes, who have described it as a game changer that has significantly improved their preparations for international competitions by providing consistent financial support for their training needs.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the initiative reflected the Commission’s commitment to building a sustainable system for sporting success through deliberate investment in athletes.
“There are no accidental successes in sports. This is why the Commission has prioritised the welfare and wellbeing of our athletes as a critical part of our strategy for scientific podium success,” Hon, Olopade said.
He said the training grants were among the key mandates given to the Commission’s leadership by President Tinubu to ensure that Nigerian athletes receive the financial support needed to compete effectively at the highest level.
“I am particularly glad that we have been able to institute this athletes’ training grants policy because it is one of the core mandates Mr President gave to Mallam Shehu Dikko and me, to ensure that we put money in the pockets of Nigerian athletes and prepare them adequately for international competitions like the Olympics.”
“We can only get the best out of our athletes when we take care of them properly. By doing so, they will wear the Green and White of our country with pride and dignity. This is why Mr President has continued to support every policy we have introduced to revamp the sports sector,” he said.
Hon. Olopade added that sustained financial support would enable athletes to concentrate on their training without the distractions of financial uncertainty.
“Our athletes need this money to stay focused on their training so they are not distracted in their preparations for major competitions. And we must not forget that when we take care of our athletes, they will take care of the country with medals,” he added.
The impact of the training grants has continued to reflect in Nigeria’s recent performances at international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country emerged as Africa’s leading nation.
The performances of athletes such as Samuel Ogazi and Nathaniel Ezekiel, who broke world records, further highlighted the benefits of sustained investment in elite sports development.
Team Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of consistent support for athletes as the country intensifies preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The NSC said the training grants remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s elite sports system, improve international competitiveness and deliver sustained podium success at major global competitions.
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