The Queen’s Baton was in Nigerian on a seven-nation tour that will see it visit all the Commonwealth countries ahead of the Commonwealth Games holding April 4-15, 2018 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Queen’s Baton relay team made a stop at the British Council Office in Ikoyi, Lagos on April 4, where it was received by the Director, Business Services, Lucy Pearson.
From the inception of the games in 1958, the tradition of the Queen’s Baton relay is one that has endured.
The relay team was led by President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Mr. Gideon Sam. Adam Best, Patricia Quayle and Colins Briggs are the other members of the team. Also on ground were members of the Nigerian Sports Supporters Club, who thrilled those present with the songs that have become synonymous with Nigerian supporters.
Welcoming the team to the British Council office, Pearson said the visit will help create awareness for sports development in Nigeria and the rest of the commonwealth. She explained that the British Council is involved in sports development in Nigeria through sports programmes like Premier Skills, and support for Rugby via its iTry Rugby platform.
Premier Skills is a partnership between British Council and the Premier League that has provided over 200 girls in Lagos with skills in community football development and child protection advocacy. iTry Rugby, on the other hand, is a partnership between British Council and the Barewa Rugby Club in Kano that works with schools to introduce the sports to poor communities in Kano.
“We are delighted that the Queen’s Baton is at home here in Nigeria and we hope that this will spur young students here to emulate the virtues of sports,” Ms. Pearson said.
Tunde Popoola, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Games Association of Nigeria, said he considers the Commonwealth Games the second biggest sports event Nigeria participates in and comes with the added attribute of taking on both able and not so able in one single game where the medal counts as one.
“Remember the Olympics have Paralympics? For the Commonwealth Games you have one event. The Queen’s Baton is a symbol of the unity that these games have come to represent,” Mr Popoola added.
Adam Best, a member of the Queen’s Baton Relay Team echoed Mr. Popoola’s statement when he said: “Coming to Nigeria is an opportunity to take her Majesty’s message around the Commonwealth. Nigeria is our sixth destination out of 70 and this is my third time in the country. Every time I come here, I have a lot of fun and there is a lot of enthusiasm and support for the Commonwealth Games. I welcome all Nigerian athletes to Gold Coast in 2018 and I hope you get a lot of medals, but please leave some for Australia.”
The Queens Baton relay team has visited Lagos State Governor, Akinwumni Ambode and came to the British Council office from the palace of the Elegusi of Ikate, Oba Saheed Ademola. The team has since left for Kenya.
Staff of British Council and guests took the opportunity to take pictures with the baton.