The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. on Saturday concluded the 14th edition of its annual sports fiesta at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The vibrant week-long event brought together hundreds of employees for competition, camaraderie, and organisational bonding.

The fiesta featured about 450 athletes competing in 13 sports, including football, swimming, tennis, scrabble, and several indoor and outdoor games across Abuja venues.

This year’s biennial edition, with the theme ‘Energy in Motion: Compete, Connect and Celebrate’, showcased teams from NNPC’s six zones reflecting the firm’s three core values.

The teams included Team Integrity from Port Harcourt and Benin, Team Excellence from Lagos and Warri, and Team Sustainability from Abuja and Kaduna.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, NNPCL chief, Bashir Ojulari, expressed delight at the event’s success and praised strong staff participation.

“My heart is full. I am truly excited. I watched the events closely and realised how much I missed this,” Mr Ojulari said.

He described the fiesta as a vivid demonstration of “energy in motion”, highlighting the vibrancy, discipline, and teamwork that define the new NNPC Ltd.

He said the unity and sportsmanship displayed throughout the fiesta reflect qualities shaping the company’s ongoing transformation into a world-class energy enterprise.

Mr Ojulari commended staff for breaking organisational silos, building relationships, and demonstrating collaboration across various business units.

Looking ahead to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Games slated for February 2 to 5, 2026, he issued a confident challenge to competitors.

“Let them be on the lookout. We will defend our title and take our winning legacy to the next level,” he said.

He urged employees to take the same discipline and enthusiasm shown during the fiesta back to their workplaces as a standard for daily excellence. He also thanked organisers, volunteers, and participants for their commitment, comparing their work to preparing a feast that requires many hands.

Chairman of the local organising committee, Suleiman Suleiman, hailed the 2025 edition as a resounding success marked by discipline and smooth coordination.

The event showcased NNPC’s commitment to excellence, teamwork, and sustainability, with participants shining in sports such as scrabble, tennis, swimming, and football.

Mr Suleiman noted that NNPC, being a large and diverse organisation, seldom has opportunities for all units to interact, making the fiesta an important unifying platform. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continuous improvement, noting that lessons from previous events have been applied and that additional enhancements are planned.

He added that the competition serves as a grooming ground for athletes who will represent NNPC at NOGIG 2026, saying the performances showed strong readiness.

Team Integrity from the Port Harcourt and Benin zones emerged overall champions, finishing with 31 gold, 18 silver, and 21 bronze medals. Team Sustainability from the Abuja and Kaduna zones came second with 15 gold, 26 silver, and 23 bronze medals in the final standings. Team Excellence from the Lagos and Warri zones placed third, collecting 13 gold, 16 silver, and 19 bronze medals during the tournament. Team Integrity also dominated, winning nine trophies and cementing their status as the top-performing contingent.

The 14th NNPC Sports Fiesta ended with medal presentations and celebrations, reinforcing teamwork, resilience, and excellence as the company moves towards NOGIG 2026.

(NAN)