Published By Olukayode Idowu
Ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Nigeria received the Queen’s Baton in Abuja, on 15 October 2021.
The Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) is the traditional curtain raiser for the Games. It begins when the Baton, containing a message from The Queen, departs from Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, and travels through all 72 nations and territories taking part in the Games, serving as a focal point for a programme of activities and media moments. The global journey will conclude at the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony.
During its three-day visit to Nigeria, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the baton on behalf of the President at the Presidential Villa, alongside the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and the President of Commonwealth Games Nigeria, Habu Gumel.
Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said: “As the relay goes from one Commonwealth member-country to another in its journey across several continents, the two billion-strong population of the commonwealth are reminded of the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship that bind us across these continents, nations, races, tongues, and faiths.”
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As part of activities lined up to commemorate the visit of the baton to Nigeria – the first country in Africa to receive it, the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, hosted a reception and awarded a certificate on behalf of the University of Birmingham to the Baton bearer, Abiola Joy Jonathan.
During the reception, High Commissioner Catriona Laing said: “Birmingham 2022 will be a number of firsts. For example, it will be the first major multi-sport event to award more medals to women than men. The introduction of women’s T20 cricket for the first time will contribute to a total of 136 medal events for women, as opposed to 134 for men. The games will also have the most extensive para-sports programme in Commonwealth Games history – eight para-sports have now been confirmed.”
President of the Commonwealth Games Nigeria, Engr. Habu Gumel, said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay aligns with the United Nations Development Goals in the areas of equality, diversity and inclusion, job creation, well-being and global sustainability. The baton is also to remind participating countries in the Commonwealth that the Games are around the corner and there is need to commence active preparation.”
Other activities to mark the visit of the Queen’s baton to Nigeria included a sporting and cultural event in Aduvie International School, a National Olympics and Commonwealth Games committee partner school, as well as a relay and boat ride in Jabi Lake and a tour around Abuja.
The Queen’s Baton departed Nigeria to Gambia on October 18, 2021.