Sports

Thrilling Finish at 14th NNPC Sports Festival as Team Integrity Claims Top Spot

Published

10 months ago

December 6, 2025

…Ojulari Charges Staff to Make Company Proud at Oil Industry Games

Joel Ajayi

The 14th NNPC Ltd. Sports Fiesta ended on a spectacular note on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with Team Integrity emerging overall champions after a week of intense competition and camaraderie.

Representing the Port Harcourt and Benin Zones, Team Integrity dominated the final medals table with an impressive 31 gold, 18 silver and 21 bronze medals, in addition to winning nine trophies to cement their top position.

They were followed by Team Sustainability (Abuja and Kaduna Zones), which finished second with 15 gold, 26 silver and 23 bronze medals, while Team Excellence (Lagos and Warri Zones) placed third, securing 13 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze medals.

Speaking at the colourful closing ceremony, the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, applauded the athletes for their brilliant performances, describing the fiesta as a strong demonstration of the Company’s values of resilience, teamwork, and excellence.

Ojulari said NNPC Ltd was already looking forward to defending its long-standing dominance at the 20th Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) coming up in February 2026.

“Let the discipline you showed throughout these games elevate our performance; let the unity you built here strengthen our teamwork; let the excellence you demonstrated become our daily standard,”
— GCEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari

He expressed confidence that the top talents discovered at the Fiesta would strengthen the Company’s quest to remain the team to beat at NOGIG.

Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, said the performance level witnessed throughout the Fiesta was a strong indication that NNPC Ltd would not only participate at NOGIG but would make a bold and lasting impression.

The 14th edition, themed “Energy In Motion: Compete, Connect & Celebrate,” featured 450 athletes competing in 13 sports, reflecting the Company’s commitment to promoting employee well-being as a driver of productivity.

Athletes battled across football, basketball, volleyball, chess, squash, scrabble, 8-ball pool, golf, tennis, table tennis, badminton, swimming and athletics. The event also served as a talent-selection platform for NNPC Ltd’s team ahead of NOGIG, where the Company has remained a serial champion.

At the last edition of NOGIG held in 2024, NNPC Ltd finished as overall winners with 50 medals — 20 gold, 9 silver and 21 bronze.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Suleiman Suleiman, described the 2025 Fiesta as a resounding success, citing quality competition, strong staff bonding and adherence to discipline.

“It has been beautiful and fun. There’s been a lot of competition and bonding because NNPC Ltd is a very big family. This festival brings everyone together,”
— Suleiman Suleiman, LOC Chairman

He emphasized that discipline remained a top priority for the organizers and praised the athletes for upholding the Company’s values. Suleiman confirmed that 12 of the 13 sports had concluded with only the final volleyball match ongoing at the time.

Reflecting on the achievements of the Fiesta, he said all set targets were fully met, noting that the energy and unity displayed were a true reflection of NNPC Ltd’s identity as the nation’s premier energy provider.

On future improvements, he assured that the LOC was committed to building on the successes recorded.

Looking ahead, Suleiman announced that preparations had already begun for the next major event — the NMPCL Games, scheduled for February 2026 in Kaduna.

“With the support of management and the commitment of staff, the next edition will reflect the best of NMPCL,” he assured.

Share on Facebook

Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

34 mins ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

Share on Facebook