Over 1000 athletes representing 13 companies in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector will compete in the 2018 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games beginning tomorrow at the Chevron Recreation Centre, Gbagada, Lagos.
At a press conference to herald the start of the games, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Aminu Zaria said 11 sports, which includes, football, squash, table tennis, scrabble, chess, snooker, swimming and golf. Others include basketball, 100 metres dash and the 4×100 metres relay will feature in the week-long event expected to end February 24.
According to him, “the events will run simultaneously in four locations which include Chevron Gbagada, Ikoyi Club 1938, Lakowe Golf Club and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Zaria also said that this year’s games witnessed an increase in the number of participating companies.
“These include NNPC, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Total, Erotone and NCDMB. Others include DPR, SEPLAT, NLNG, DPR, PTI and OVH,†he said, promising that there were indications that the number will be greater in subsequent editions.
The 2018 Oil and Gas Industry Games is the 17th in the series and has grown from a single-sport to a multi-sports event.
Also speaking at the press conference, Vice President of the LOC, Alex Onumbu said there was more to the games than prizes. “What we get out of these games, in terms of participation cannot be quantified in monetary terms,†adding that NOGIG provided a platform for interaction and connectivity among players in the industry across board.
The games end at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on February 24, with the final of the football event between Chevron and Exxon Mobil.
Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode will be the special guest of honour at the grand finale. Also expected at the final are the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung, among other dignitaries.
