The Chairman of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Games (NOGIG), Engr. Suleiman Suleiman, has underscored workforce wellness as the central objective of the biennial tournament, describing it as a critical driver of productivity, collaboration and sustainable growth across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Speaking on Friday at a pre-event press conference in Abuja ahead of the 20th edition of NOGIG, scheduled for February 8–14, 2026, Suleiman said the games were designed to promote health and wellbeing among industry professionals rather than produce elite athletes. “The core objective of the tournament is wellness. Promoting wellness translates directly to productivity in the industry,” he said, noting that participants are oil and gas professionals and not professional sportsmen. He explained that NOGIG goes beyond sports, serving as a platform for building resilience, strengthening workplace relationships and fostering cooperation across corporate boundaries within the sector. According to him, the 2026 edition is historic as it marks 40 years of the games, which have grown into a premier biennial sporting convergence bringing together indigenous and international oil companies, operators, regulators and affiliated institutions. Suleiman disclosed that about 1,200 contingents and athletes from 15 participating companies and regulatory bodies will compete in 13 sporting disciplines during the Abuja-hosted event. “What NOGIG represents is workforce wellness, industry cohesion and healthy rivalry anchored on professionalism. An industry that competes together in sports builds trust and strengthens collaboration in business,” he said. He added that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry remains a strategic pillar of the national economy and a key contributor to global energy supply, stressing that platforms such as NOGIG reinforce shared values of teamwork, discipline, excellence, inclusiveness and purpose at a time of evolving global energy dynamics. Highlighting the competition schedule, Suleiman said football finals and athletics events will headline the closing ceremonies on February 13 and 14, while other sports including badminton, golf and basketball will take place earlier in the week. He assured stakeholders that the Local Organising Committee, made up of representatives from the 15 participating companies, is committed to delivering a safe, fair and inclusive event that leaves a lasting legacy befitting the milestone edition. “The 20th edition of NOGIG is not merely an anniversary. It is a reaffirmation that collaboration, wellness and shared purpose remain at the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” Suleiman said, inviting the media and industry stakeholders to join in celebrating four decades of unity through sports.
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