“The one we concluded last weekend was the Oil and Gas Games, and they have been doing it for decades. You are starting something new. Small steps will lead to something big. This maiden edition will require technical support, experience and coordination, and we are here to give you that support,” he said.

Beyond recreation, Dikko argued that sports could foster peer review and collaboration within an industry often criticised for inefficiencies.

“This addition of sports will bring your people together. You will compare what other operators are doing in the industry and see how you can support yourselves to do your core business better, which is getting electricity across the country,” he said.

The NSC chairman urged electricity companies to embed community sports infrastructure into their operations, particularly in areas hosting substations, power plants and transmission facilities.

“You should not just do the games and stop there. Think about legacy. Within the areas where you operate, look at supporting grassroots sports. If there is an open space, build a small basketball court, a football pitch, or a tennis court,” he said.

“If you do that, you are not just creating future stars. You are enhancing security. The young people around those facilities will channel their energy into positive engagement instead of negative activities.”

According to him, investing in grassroots sports within host communities could help protect critical national infrastructure by strengthening community relations and youth engagement.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NESI Platform and head of the steering committee for NESI Week 2026, Obiora Anthony, 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.

He explained that the games would promote workforce wellness, leadership development and cross-sector collaboration, aligning with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on growing the sports economy.

“This event will give an opportunity for workforce wellness, leadership development and national sports development. It is structured in phases, regional qualifiers, quarter-finals in October, and the national finals in November 2026 here in Abuja. We hope tow the finals at the National Stadium,” Anthony said.

He added that the sporting fiesta would be embedded within NESI Week 2026, a broader convening platform that brings together policymakers, regulators, operators and private sector leaders in the energy ecosystem.