Nigeria’s quest to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2031 African Games got a boost on Friday August 29, 2025 with African Ministers of Sports throwing their weight behind the bids.
African Ministers of Sports, under the auspices of the African Union Commission, held a virtual consultative meeting, with Nigeria represented by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko.
In his intervention, the NSC Chairman, Dikko, who also serves as the President-in-Office/Chairman of the Council of Sports Ministers of AUSC Region 2 (West Africa), informed the Council of Nigeria’s formal bid to host the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games in Abuja.
He solicited the support of African states that are members of the Commonwealth—and the entire continent—to regard the bid as an African bid.
The NSC Chairman also disclosed that Nigeria has expressed interest in hosting the 2031 Africa Games in Abuja, assuring the Council that discussions with the African Union Sports Council are ongoing.
Dikko further expressed appreciation to the Council for granting Nigeria the hosting rights of the 2027 African Youth Games, assuring that the country is fully committed to delivering a successful continental youth sports festival.
The Chairperson of the meeting, Uchizi Mkandawire, Minister of Youth and Sports of Malawi, acknowledged Nigeria’s presentations and assured the resounding support of all African States.
He affirmed that Nigeria can count on the solidarity of African members of the Commonwealth in its bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, as well as in its interest to host the 2031 Africa Games
The meeting received briefings from Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, on the organization and management of the African Games, as well as preparations for the STC-YCS5 (5th Session of Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture, and Sports) scheduled to be held in October 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
Further presentations were made by Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on the status of preparations for the 14th edition of the Africa Games, which Egypt will host in 2027.
The meeting appreciated and endorsed Egypt as the host nation of the 2027 Africa Games and reaffirmed the collective commitment of African States to continued collaboration aimed at strengthening sports across the continent.
