Team Nigeria has increased its medal haul to six at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after an outstanding display by its para-powerlifting team. The country’s medal winners so far are Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Riluwan Idris, who claimed gold medals, while Roland Ezuruike, Esther Oyema and Rita Ferdinand settled for silver as Nigeria made an emphatic start to its campaign.
The impressive outing at the Scottish Event Campus saw Nigeria collect three gold and three silver medals on the opening day of competition, further cementing its reputation as one of the world’s leading nations in para powerlifting.
Roland Ezuruike got Team Nigeria’s campaign underway by winning the country’s first medal of the Games after finishing with silver in the men’s lightweight event.
The women’s lightweight category produced Nigeria’s first gold medal as Esther Nworgu set a new Commonwealth Games record with a lift of 123kg. Fellow Nigerian Esther Oyema joined her on the podium after securing the silver medal to complete a dominant outing for the country in the event.
Nigeria’s second gold came through Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who once again underlined her status as one of the sport’s greatest athletes by breaking her own world record twice before sealing victory with a remarkable lift of 175kg in the women’s heavyweight category.
Rita Ferdinand also impressed in the same category, claiming silver after a strong performance that saw her add another medal to Nigeria’s growing tally.
Riluwan Idris rounded off a memorable day for Team Nigeria by winning gold in the men’s heavyweight event with a best lift of 208kg, earning 132.8 points to seal Nigeria’s third gold medal of the Games.
Nigeria’s six-medal haul, made up of three gold and three silver medals, places the country on a strong footing as the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games gather momentum, with more medal opportunities still to come.
