The 2025 NASENI Annual Games officially kicked off at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, with a powerful call by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, for staff to embody the values of sportsmanship, innovation, and teamwork that define the agency’s mission.
Declaring open the second edition of the Games, Halilu said the event represented far more than competition—it was a reflection of NASENI’s internal culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration across all its institutes and centres nationwide.
“This gathering is not only about sports but about pushing harder, faster, and working together as one NASENI family,” Halilu said.
“We are all members of one movement—building a stronger, smarter, and more innovative NASENI.”
Beyond Medals: Building the NASENI Spirit
Halilu emphasized that while winning medals is commendable, the true essence of the Games lies in discipline, focus, unity, and passion.
He likened sportsmanship to the principles driving NASENI’s technological advancement—teamwork, consistency, and a shared pursuit of national development.
“Sporting progress happens when we give our best,” he stated. “The Games remind us that success at NASENI, just like in sports, depends on teamwork, discipline, and unity.”
He encouraged staff from across NASENI’s 13 development institutes to participate fully, support each other, and turn the competition into a memorable celebration of innovation and camaraderie.
“To every participant—give your all. To the supporters—make some noise. Let’s show that NASENI knows how to play hard and work hard,” Halilu added.
A Platform for Collaboration and Wellness
In his welcome address, Engr. Bernard Ozigi, Chairman of the NASENI Sports Committee, commended the EVC’s leadership and commitment to staff welfare, health, and workplace harmony.
He said the Games were designed not only to promote physical fitness but also to strengthen inter-agency bonds and boost morale among staff.
“The NASENI Games go beyond trophies,” Ozigi noted. “They promote discipline, fair play, and mutual respect—values that extend beyond the field or track and reflect our agency’s culture of innovation and teamwork.”
Highlights from the Opening Day
The tournament began with an exciting lineup of male and female football matches across NASENI institutes:
- Men’s Matches
- NASENI HQ 0–0 PEDI Ilesa
- EMDI Akure 3–0 AMTDI Jalingo
- SEDI Minna 3–0 NEEDI Nnewi
- SOMMEDI 4–0 NSEL
- NASENI HQ 0–0 PEDI Ilesa
- Women’s Match
- NEDDI Nnewi 2–0 NASENI HQ Angels
- NEDDI Nnewi 2–0 NASENI HQ Angels
Special recognition awards were presented to outstanding participants:
- Best Coordinating Subcommittee Member: Mr. Adabayo John (EMDI Akure)
- Best Kitted Team: ELDI Awka
- Best Behaved Team: EMDI Akure
- Best Match Pass Team: NASENI Headquarters
Eight Sports, One Vision
The NASENI Games 2025 features eight major indoor and outdoor events, including football, volleyball, badminton, chess, scrabble, table tennis, and lawn tennis.
With teams representing NASENI’s institutes from Awka to Minna, Nnewi to Jalingo, the event has become a showcase of talent, creativity, and unity in diversity.
The competition will culminate on Thursday, October 23, 2025, with a grand closing ceremony celebrating winners, innovators, and the enduring NASENI spirit.
Halilu’s Vision: Innovate, Compete, Excel
Under Khalil Suleiman Halilu’s leadership, NASENI has increasingly positioned itself as a people-centric innovation powerhouse driving Nigeria’s transition into a technology-led economy.
By integrating wellness, teamwork, and creativity into workplace culture, the agency aims to foster a high-performance environment that balances productivity with purpose.
“The same spirit that drives our innovation labs is what we celebrate on the field—resilience, collaboration, and excellence,” Halilu said.
As NASENI continues to redefine innovation for national development, the NASENI Games stands as a vibrant reminder that great institutions are built not just by machines or ideas—but by people who move, play, and build together.
