A total of 25 Research and Development Institutes will be taking part in this year’s RIGAN Games billed to hold between December 13 to 22 at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute in Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
The participating institutes are drawn from ministries of science and technology, agriculture, transport, health, industries and the Presidency.
According to the president of RIGAN, Professor Rabiu Adamu of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU Zaria, about 1500 athletes will compete in athletics (track and field), football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, indoor games like squash, badminton, draught, chess and scrabble.
On what the organisers are doing to prevent the use of mercenaries at the games, the president of RIGAN said “Mercenaries will be checked through the use of IPPIS and Staff nominal roll from Head of Service.
“There are also severe sanctions as any institute caught cheating will face disqualification, withdrawal of medals and ban from the next games.”
Prof. Adamu also said the opening ceremony billed for Monday, December 16 will have the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as the Special Guest of honour.
The maiden edition of the games took place at Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria in 1982.
