After many years of operating on the fringe, practitioners and other stakeholders in the Nigerian Esports sector have received important recognition from the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), which will further brighten the fortune of the games
The good news was conveyed in a letter dated August 24, 2023, signed by the Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee Babatunde Popoola.
At a recent meeting with journalists in Abuja to unveil the executive committee of the Nigeria Esports Federation (NEF), its President, Yahaya Maikori, applauded the NOC for the timely approval of its application for recognition.
He noted that with the rise in Esports and the benefits accruable to Nigerian youths and the economy, the country cannot wait while other countries fast-track the growth of their sport.
The new exco and management of NEF include the immediate past chairman of Lagos State Esports Association, Emmanuel Oyelakin (Vice-President in charge of Operations); Susan Ozenogu, Vice-President in charge of Administration; music star, Dr. Sidney Esiri (Dr Sid of the MoHits Record and later Mavin Record fame), who is in charge of Technical.
Others are Sunny Gullong, Head of Competitions/Tournaments; Andy Gabriel, Communications; Nseobong Okon-Ekong, Head of Media/Publicity, Austin Chigbolu, Kemi Ariola (Special Adviser) and Paul Okeugu, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship.
According to Maikori, “every member of the team is a recognised professional in the ecosystem. Esports stands for electronic sports. It is organised competitive video gaming, in which teams compete in tournaments for a cash prize.”
Explaining the level of engagement achieved by the Nigeria Esports Federation, Maikori revealed that they were already in talks with key partners to develop training hubs and establish world-class sports facilities for international competition.
He noted that recent breakthroughs in technology and high-speed internet have led to an increase in competitive electronic games, which has helped several youngsters choose professional career paths in Esports. He added that several institutions now offer scholarships and dedicated programmes to develop gaming skills as part of STEM.
The Esport industry in the recent time witnessed exponential financial benefits with large prize pools funded by sponsors, increasing the number of gamers, viewers, event organisers, game developers, publishers, media and tech talents.
The Esports market is projected to become one of the largest employers of labour, becoming a significant contributor to the Nigerian economy between the next five and 10 years.
Maikori averred that with the global efforts to make Esports part of the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, the NEF will focus on athlete development, training and the industry’s professionalisation. He affirmed the federation’s commitment to work with key stakeholders, especially concerned government agencies and the private sector, to drive the government’s agenda of making Nigeria a net exporter of digital services through developing the Esports industry and the gaming value chain.
ESports is a multibillion-naira industry with significant growth potential. Nigeria is undoubtedly an emerging market with its vibrant youth population. From all indications, Esports is pushing beyond the fringe sport curve and will soon stand at par with popular sports.
Nigeria’s most popular Esports games include PUBG, FIFA, and Fighting Games. These games span different platforms, including PC, console, and mobile.
