The road to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games just got a lot smoother for Nigeria’s elite cyclists. In a move set to redefine the country’s presence on the global cycling stage, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has brokered a strategic partnership with the British Cycling Association, paving the way for Nigerian athletes to train in the world-class facilities of Manchester, England.
This high-level collaboration was solidified on Tuesday during a pivotal meeting between the NSC, the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), and a visiting delegation from British Cycling Association.
The British delegation, spearheaded by Commercial Strategy Manager Izza Ourzik, visited Nigeria to establish a collaborative framework. This isn’t just about high-performance training; it’s a holistic approach to sports development, to directing resources and expertise toward the fundamental growth of cycling within Nigeria.
Also, To foster a culture of “winning fairly” to ensure Nigerian cyclists excel at the Olympic and Paralympic levels with the highest ethical standards and leveraging cycling as a tool for societal improvement, health, and mobility.
The most immediate outcome of this alliance is the agreement for Team Nigeria’s cycling contingent to establish their pre-games camp in Manchester. As the home of British Cycling and the National Cycling Centre, Manchester offers a high-performance environment that is arguably unrivaled.
Preparing in the UK will allow Nigerian athletes to acclimatize to the region’s conditions and utilize cutting-edge technology and coaching methods just a short distance from the Glasgow venues.
National Sports Commission Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm, emphasizing that his administration’s primary role is to “make the soil fertile” for such ambitious endeavors.
”Cycling is seen more as an elitist sport, but that is not so,” Dikko remarked. “This is a populous nation with an abundance of talent. We have to join forces to take this sport to the schools and grassroots… Let’s take cycling to the people. Let them own it.”
Dikko’s vision is to transition cycling from a niche activity to a mainstream lifestyle, noting that in many parts of Nigeria, “you see bikes everywhere,” proving it is already a fundamental part of daily life.
The inclusion of cycling in Nigeria’s Glasgow 2026 program was a strategic decision driven by NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade. Following discussions at the Chef de Mission meeting in Glasgow, Olopade identified cycling as a “huge prospect” for the nation.
”I liaised with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and was informed that we have huge prospects in the sport,” Olopade explained. “I quickly contacted the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board and we decided to include cycling as one of the sports we will be participating.”
He also lauded the Giandomenico Massari-led CFN as one of Nigeria’s most “vibrant” federations, suggesting that this international partnership is the missing piece needed to propel Nigerian cyclists onto the podium.
