The Research Institute Games Association of Nigeria (RIGAN) comprised of thirty-five (35) Research and Development Institutes under the aegis of the Federal Ministries of Science and Technology, Health, Agriculture, Environment, Education and Transport.
The first ever Research institute Sports Festival was held back in 1982 with National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umidike, Umuahia Abia State playing host. The sports festival which is a bi-annual event was last held in 2015 which was its 15th edition and was hosted by NITT (Nigeria Institute for Transport Technology), Zaira.
Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute was awarded the hosting rights of the 16th edition of the Research Institute Games Association of Nigeria (RIGAN) tagged “OTA 2019”.
This edition had in attendance twenty-five (25) Research and Development Institutes taking part and competing in the sixteen (16) events lined up as confirmed by the RIGAN president Prof. Rabiu Adamu.
The 16th edition of the Sport Festival tagged “OTA 2019” commenced with a colourful opening ceremony on Monday December 16th at the sports centre of the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute Laboratory & Production Complex, Ota, Ogun State.
In attendance was the Hon. Minister of Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, who was represented by the DG/CEO Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency Prof. Samuel Oghenne Etatuvie, the immediate past DG/CEO NBRRI Prof. Danladi Slim Matawal, the Acting DG/CEO NBRRI Prof. Samson Duna, the Chairman, NBRRI governing board Hon William Wadni, and other board members etc.
The festival was declared opened by the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, who commended the participation of the Institutions stating that through the festival, talents can be identified that can possibly represent the country in the next Olympic games.
The lighting of the games torch was carried out by the representatives of the Hon Minster of FMST Prof. Samuel Oghenne Etatuvie DG/CEO (NNMDA) who also received the salute from the colorful parade by participating teams.
The first game of the festival was a very entertaining football march between the host NBRRI and Raw Material and Research Development Council Abuja, with (RMRDC) defeating NBRRI 3 – 1.
The week-long sports fiesta has over 1,500 participants competing in 16 events including football, volleyball, athletics (Track and field), lawn tennis, table tennis, squash, badminton, draught, chess, scrabble and veteran games with about 500 officials to serve as technical personnel.
The 16th edition of the Research Institutes Games Association of Nigeria came to a close on the 21st of December with Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan topping the medals table with a total of 63 medals, comprising of 20 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals and the host NBRRI taking the sixth position with 12 medals comprising of 5 gold, 1 silver and a 6 bronze medals.
Closing the ceremony, the National Chairman of RIGAN commended all participants and mostly NBRRI for the well-deserved applaud hosting of the event. He stated that the 17th edition of the RIGAN Games is penciled down to be held in 2021. He also showed his appreciation stating that at the end of the festival the cardinal objectives of RIGAN was achieved, which include the bringing together of various R & D Institutes through sporting activities, providing recreational interaction, friendship and sportsmanship among members, likewise exposing the hidden talents for possible national assignments in the field of sports.
FINAL MEDALS TABLE AND POSITIONS
| S/N | INSTITUTE | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL | POSITION |
| 1 | FRIN | 20 | 21 | 22 | 63 | 1ST |
| 2 | NVRI | 18 | 16 | 25 | 59 | 2ND |
| 3 | IAR&T | 14 | 22 | 13 | 49 | 3RD |
| 4 | NAERLS | 7 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 4TH |
| 5 | FIIRO | 5 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 5TH |
| 6 | NBRRI | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 6TH |
| 7 | IAR | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 7TH |
| 8 | NARICTS | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8TH |
| 9 | NIOMR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9TH |
| 10 | NILST | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10TH |
| 11 | RMRDC | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 11TH |
| 12 | PRODA | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12TH |
| 13 | NIHORT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13TH |
| 14 | NIFFR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14TH |
| 15 | NITR | – | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15TH |
| 16 | NITT | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16TH |
| 17 | NSPRI | – | – | 2 | 2 | 17TH |