Nigeria’s Gaming Industry Gets Boost with New Lagos Facility

Gamr Africa has launched a state-of-the-art video game development and e-sports training hub in Lagos, set to train 5,000 participants in its first year and bolster the growth of Nigeria’s burgeoning gaming industry.

The facility, opened in collaboration with the French Embassy and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), aims to equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to succeed in the global gaming sector. It seeks to position Nigeria as a key player in the multi-billion-dollar digital entertainment industry by providing specialized training for game developers, designers, and e-sports entrepreneurs.

Eniola Edun, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GamrLab, spoke at the unveiling event, emphasizing the urgent need for education and awareness to drive Nigeria’s video game industry forward. She noted that misconceptions about the industry, often conflating gaming with betting, have hindered its development—especially among policymakers and industry leaders.

Edun highlighted that beyond funding and infrastructure, the primary challenge facing the industry is a lack of understanding of its economic potential. “Driving the growth and sustainability of the gaming industry in Nigeria requires federal government support, particularly in education, infrastructure, and funding,” she said, stressing the importance of recognizing the sector’s significant contribution to the national economy.

She pointed out that globally, video gaming has created millionaires through both competitive play and game development. However, despite the support from private and international investors, the industry in Nigeria remains largely overlooked by local institutions and government bodies.

Christophe Pecot, the Regional Audiovisual Attaché of the French Embassy, expressed strong support for GamrLab, citing their belief in the hub’s potential to shape the future of esports and video game development in Nigeria. Pecot emphasized that the initiative would provide essential skills to students and aspiring professionals, create new opportunities for young creatives, and contribute to the long-term growth of the gaming sector.

Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Development Services at UNILAG, also praised the initiative for bridging the gap between technology, creativity, and business. Atsenuwa, represented by Olayinka Adewunmi, the Acting Director of the Innovation and Technology Management Office at UNILAG, highlighted that the hub would encourage collaboration across disciplines like engineering, humanities, and social sciences, allowing students to transition from consumers of video games to creators.

The university also expressed its openness to integrating gaming into its curriculum and collaborating with GamrLab to support digital skills development.

This new gaming hub marks an important step towards establishing Nigeria as a significant force in the global gaming industry, providing training and resources that could help unlock the country’s vast potential in digital entertainment.