Multi-sport Games
Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games
From Auckland 1950 to Glasgow 2026: 294 medals and counting.
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The Friendly Games
Nigeria and the Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games bring together athletes from the nations of the Commonwealth every four years. Nigeria first took part at Auckland 1950, when high jumper Joshua Majekodunmi won silver, and four years later Emmanuel Ifeajuna jumped to Nigeria’s first gold in Vancouver.
Since then Nigeria has become one of the strongest nations at the Games, especially in athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing and para powerlifting. Its best Games were Victoria 1994, with 37 medals, and Birmingham 2022, where all 12 of Nigeria’s golds were won by women, among them Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume.
Nigeria has missed four Games: Perth 1962, Edmonton 1978 in protest at New Zealand’s sporting links with apartheid South Africa, Edinburgh 1986, and Kuala Lumpur 1998, when it was suspended from the Commonwealth. The Nigeria Olympic Committee manages Team Nigeria at the Games.
Nigeria’s Glasgow 2026 champions
| Athlete | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Esther Nworgu | Para powerlifting | Women’s lightweight |
| Folashade Oluwafemiayo | Para powerlifting | Women’s heavyweight |
| Riluwan Idris | Para powerlifting | Men’s heavyweight |
| Edidiong Umoafia | Weightlifting | Men’s 71 kg |
| Onome Didih | Weightlifting | Women’s 53 kg |
| Rafiatu Lawal | Weightlifting | Women’s 58 kg |
| Goodness Nwachukwu | Para athletics | Women’s discus F44 |
| Chukwuebuka Enekwechi | Athletics | Men’s shot put |
| Ezekiel Nathaniel | Athletics | Men’s 400 m hurdles |
| Samuel Ogazi | Athletics | Men’s 400 m |
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Statistics · Checked 30 September 2026
Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in numbers
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294
Commonwealth medals
92 gold, 90 silver, 112 bronze
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1950
First Games
Auckland
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1954
First gold
Emmanuel Ifeajuna, high jump
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37
Most medals
Victoria 1994
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12
Most golds
Birmingham 2022
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7th
Glasgow 2026
10 gold, 24 medals
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16
Games attended
Of 20 since 1950
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4
Games missed
1962, 1978, 1986, 1998
Quick answers
Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games: facts and figures
How many Commonwealth Games medals has Nigeria won?
By our count from the official tables, 294: 92 gold, 90 silver and 112 bronze from Auckland 1950 to Glasgow 2026.
How did Nigeria do at Glasgow 2026?
Nigeria finished 7th with 24 medals: 10 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze. Weightlifting, para powerlifting and athletics each produced several golds, including Samuel Ogazi (400 m), Ezekiel Nathaniel (400 m hurdles) and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (shot put).
Which Commonwealth Games did Nigeria miss?
Perth 1962 and Edinburgh 1986, Edmonton 1978 (a protest at New Zealand’s sporting links with apartheid South Africa) and Kuala Lumpur 1998, when Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth.
Who won Nigeria’s first Commonwealth Games medal?
High jumper Joshua Majekodunmi, silver at Auckland 1950. Emmanuel Ifeajuna won Nigeria’s first gold, also in the high jump, at Vancouver 1954.
Which were Nigeria’s best Commonwealth Games?
Victoria 1994, with 37 medals including 11 golds. Birmingham 2022 produced the most golds, 12, all won by women.