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.

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Celebrates Nigeria at 66, Assures of More Progressive Sports Development Under President Tinubu

Published

19 hours ago

October 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Nigerians as the nation celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigeria’s resilience, unity and remarkable capacity to excel on the global stage, particularly through sports.

Hon. Olopade said Nigeria at 66 is an occasion every Nigerian should be proud of, noting that despite the challenges encountered over the years, the country has continued to make significant progress and produce achievements capable of inspiring generations.

The DG said the sports sector has particular reasons to celebrate, pointing to a series of performances and milestones by Nigerian athletes and teams across the global sporting landscape.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

Hon. Olopade said the progress being witnessed in Nigerian sports aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said is focused on creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes, while positioning sports as a tool for national development, youth empowerment and global recognition.

He pointed to Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the latest examples of the country’s sporting potential. Team Nigeria returned from Glasgow with 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing seventh overall and as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. The campaign also produced three world records and a number of historic milestones across para powerlifting, athletics, weightlifting, para athletics and judo.

Among the standout performances was that of Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won gold in para powerlifting and twice broke the world record during the competition, ultimately lifting 175kg. Goodness Nwachukwu also successfully defended her Commonwealth title in the women’s para discus and set a new world record, while Nigeria recorded historic Commonwealth gold medals through Samuel Ogazi in the men’s 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the men’s shot put.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” Hon. Olopade said.

He also celebrated the continued dominance of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, which in 2025 became the first nation to win five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan in the last edition. The achievement extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games and secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway.

On the global athletics scene, Hon. Olopade highlighted the continued excellence of Tobi Amusan and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sprinters. Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September 2026, clocking 12.34 seconds in the final, while Kayinsola Ajayi added another significant milestone by winning Commonwealth bronze in the men’s 100m and helping Nigeria to bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow.

Nigeria’s football heritage, Hon. Olopade noted, remains another major source of national pride. The country holds the record for the most FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, with five championships won by the Golden Eaglets in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

He also pointed to the country’s growing influence in emerging sports, including flag football. Nigeria made history by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship in Cairo in 2025, earning qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” the DG said.

“From our champions who continue to break world records to our young athletes who are announcing themselves on the international stage, the Nigerian flag continues to fly with pride around the world. This is why the development of sports must remain a national priority. Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions.”

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we celebrate Nigeria’s past, but we must also look confidently toward the future. Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” the DG added.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission, I wish all Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May our great nation continue to grow in strength, unity, prosperity and sporting excellence,” Hon. Olopade concluded.

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