Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has praised Nigeria’s young athletic contingent following their historic three-gold medal performance in track and field events at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. ​
In an official statement released on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Atiku celebrated the sensational accomplishments of sprinters Rosemary Nwankwo, Gift Bright, and Praise Ugoh, describing their performances as a testament to the untapped potential of Nigerian youth.
​The athletics competition, hosted at the Complexe Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar, reached a historic high point on Sunday, November 8, 2026, when Team Nigeria executed an unprecedented sprint sweep. Seventeen-year-old team captain Rosemary Nwankwo stormed to victory in the women’s 100-meter final, stopping the clock at 11.16 seconds to claim Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games.
With this victory, Nwankwo joined the ranks of Josephine Omaka (Singapore 2010) and Rosemary Chukwuma (Buenos Aires 2018) as the third Nigerian woman to secure the Youth Olympic 100m crown. ​Momentum continued in the men’s 100-meter final, where 15-year-old Gift Bright outran the field to capture gold in 10.28 seconds, making him the first Nigerian male sprinter in history to win the Youth Olympic 100m title.
Together, the duo marked the first time Nigeria secured a double 100m victory at the same Youth Olympic Games edition. ​Nigeria’s gold tally expanded further on Monday, November 9, 2026, when Praise Ugoh delivered a dominant performance in the women’s 400-meter final. Competing in her first international final over the distance, Ugoh became the first Nigerian to win the women’s 400m title at the Youth Olympic event. ​
Reacting to the victories on Tuesday morning, Atiku Abubakar commended the dedication and resilience displayed by the athletes, stating that their achievements serve as a reminder that the nation’s greatest wealth lies in its youth and that strategic investment in talent yields global recognition.
He further pledged to continue advocating for improved sports infrastructure, facility development, and funding opportunities across Nigeria. ​From Dakar, Team Nigeria athletics officials Yusuf Alli and Lekan Alabi confirmed that the squad had exceeded initial performance targets for the tournament, while Director General of the National Sports Commission,
Hon. Bukola Olopade, commended the athletes’ determination in setting new national benchmarks. ​The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which run through November 13, 2026, represent the first time an Olympic event is being hosted on the African continent.
