The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has pledged full government support for the maiden Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Games, describing the initiative as a platform to foster cohesion in the power sector and stimulate the sports economy.
Dikko made the pledge on Sunday following a courtesy visit by the management of the NESI Platform, organisers of NESI Week 2026, which will feature sporting activities for workers and stakeholders across the electricity value chain.
The games, scheduled for November 15 to 20, 2026, in Abuja, will bring together generation companies, distribution companies, transmission operators, regulators, government agencies, and other stakeholders under one competitive platform.
“Our mandate here is to work for every sport, for every organisation, and to provide the enabling environment for sport prosper, whether it is grassroots sports, community sports, or organisational sports like the one you are trying to do,” Dikko said.
He added that the initiative aligns with the government’s agenda to expand the sports economy while promoting collaboration and productivity in critical sectors.
Highlighting the economic potential of the games, Dikko said, “What you are about to do, from the zonal qualifiers to the state levels and then the finals, will have a measurable economic impact.”
Drawing parallels with the long-running Oil and Gas Industry Games, he noted that while the oil and gas sector has hosted its event for decades, the electricity sector is only beginning its own tradition.
Dikko also emphasised the broader benefits of sports in the industry, including fostering collaboration, peer review, and community engagement.
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He urged electricity companies to embed grassroots sports infrastructure into host communities, including building basketball courts, football pitches, and tennis courts, to promote youth engagement and enhance security around critical facilities.
Obiora Anthony, Chairman of the NESI Platform and head of the NESI Week 2026 steering committee, described the games as a landmark initiative for the power sector.
“NESI Games 2026 is the first nationally structured sporting event for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
This industry comprises generation companies, distribution companies, the transmission operator, regulators, energy agencies, investors and even consumers. It is a large value chain,” he said.
Anthony explained that the games would promote workforce wellness, leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on growing the sports economy.
The event will be structured in phases, with regional qualifiers and quarter-finals in October, culminating in the national finals in November at the National Stadium in Abuja.
The sporting fiesta will be embedded within NESI Week 2026, a broader platform convening policymakers, regulators, operators, and private sector leaders in the energy ecosystem.