The 17th edition of the RIGAN Games Festival which was hosted by Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) was held between the 14th – 20th March, 2022 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja. The 10-day sporting events saw all participating institutes battled for trophies and medals during the course of the games.
About 2,500 sportsmen and women from about 22 Research and Development institutes across the country participated.
The Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu revealed at the opening ceremony which began with fanfare and a whole lot of excitement on Monday 14th March, 2022 inside the Old Parade Ground Abuja, that the RIGAN Games is aimed at discovering burden talents and that the event is also a strong point of unity, peace and diversity as the strength and pillar of Nigeria.
The Minister who was ably represented by the Honourable Minister for State, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, said the major Objective of the RIGAN Games was to showcase the brilliant Nigerian spirit of unity by bringing all research and development institutes together from different ministries. The Ministries which participated include Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministries of Environment, Health, Education, Agriculture, Sports and Youth Development, National Planning Commission and several others, domiciled in different parts of Nigeria.
Also speaking, the National President of RIGAN, Prof, Oluwaferanmi Owolade explained that this year’s edition would go a long way in producing more national stars of great personalities in the likes of Coach Austin Eguavoen and others to represent Nigeria outside the country.
He also stated that the game has exposed hidden talents for possible national assignments in the field of sports. He mentioned that the games will bring about sound mind and physical fitness required for attaining the goals set for research and development institutes and respective functions.
Speaking at the event, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NBRRI, Prof. Samson Duna, wished all the athletes the best of luck and he encouraged them to make their various institutes and agencies proud.
About 86 NBRRI Staff from NBRRI’s zonal offices and Head office participated in games like track and field events such as short put, race, and indoor games like scrabble, Ayo, Chess, Darts, Draft amongst others. NBRRI won 4 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 8 bronze medals making it a total of 16 medals. The competition ended with NBRRI coming 7th out of the 22 Institutes that participated.
The DG/CEO congratulated NBRRI Staff on their position and efforts during the games and hoped that they would do better than this at the next RIGAN Games. He also wished them journey mercies to their various destinations.
