Philemon Ylleng ,Team Manager of the NNPC men’s basketball team, has called for increased media coverage and improved talent discovery at the ongoing 20th Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) in Abuja.
Ylleng made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
He said greater media visibility would help project the games to a wider audience and encourage more participation from stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.
“I would like to see the media create more awareness and sensitisation around the games,” he said.
According to him, enhanced coverage would not only showcase the sporting talents within the industry but also highlight the role of sports in promoting unity, wellness and productivity among workers.
He said that consistent media engagement would also boost the credibility and profile of the games, attracting sponsors and strengthening institutional support.
Ylleng added that the games present a veritable platform for talent identification, stressing that exceptional players could be scouted to represent the industry and even the country.
“If the games are well publicised, it will attract attention beyond the industry and open doors for outstanding athletes to advance in their sporting careers,” he said.
He reiterated that sustained media coverage and strategic promotion would further enhance the growth, development and long-term sustainability of NOGIG in future editions.
Some team officials who spoke said wider publicity would not only boost participation, but also attract sponsorship and greater corporate support for the competition.
They noted that consistent media engagement would help highlight the industry’s commitment to staff welfare, wellness and inter-company collaboration through sports.
According to them, effective coverage would further showcase the sporting talents within the sector and position the games as a major corporate sporting event in the country.
NAN reports that the games commenced on Feb.8 and will end on Feb.14 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with 1,200 athletes from 15 companies, competing in 13 sports.
The sports featuring at the games include athletics, football, volleyball, badminton, squash, tennis, table tennis, swimming, scrabble, snooker, golf, basketball and chess.
Participating companies include TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Seplat Energy, Oando, Shell, Nigeria LNG (NLNG), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Renaissance, Chevron, Aradel holdings, petroleum training institute and ND Western.(
