Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, said the projection of the state government was to increase Lagos share of the African gaming market to 30 per cent and solidify the status of state as a key player in the gaming industry, largely being propelled through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
He added that the state government had re-calibrated the thrust of tourism through the development of a tourism master plan and tourism policy designed to make the sector not only a huge revenue earner but also a model for economic regeneration as seen in cities such as Zanzibar, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
He said part of his administration’s commitment and renewed determination in line with the THEMES+ economic agenda was to leverage the potentialities of the gaming, entertainment and tourism sectors.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the ongoing Africa Gaming Expo Lagos 2024, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said the central theme of the expo: “Exploring the Future of the Africa Gaming Market: Emerging Trends, Prospects and Opportunities” was apt and spoke directly to the key objectives that the expo was set to achieve, against the backdrop of the relatively nascent nature of the industry in Africa.
He said: “For us in Lagos State, as an emerging smart city, the sub-theme of the Expo – “Entertainment, Gaming and Tourism: A Nexus for Economic Growth” would appear more germane as it speaks to the integral part of the state’s economic agenda and priorities.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Mr Bashir Are, commended Sanwo-Olu’s administration for its unwavering commitment to revolutionise the gaming industry through effective regulation, by leveraging modern technological innovation and global best practices.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Gaming Expo Limited, Dr Charles Ekundayo, said: “The aim of organising the Expo is rooted in promoting the Africa Gaming Market while fostering collaboration among industry professionals and addressing the challenges faced in the industry.”
