With Nigeria possessing the creative talent to become one of the world’s leading game development markets; the question is no longer whether Nigerian developers can create globally competitive games, but whether the ecosystem can build the businesses, partnerships and investment needed to turn that talent into a sustainable creative economy.

This was the central message of Lagos Games Week 2026, held on 18–19 June, which brought together developers, educators, investors, technology companies, policymakers and international partners to explore how Nigeria can position itself as a serious player in the global video games industry.

Supported by its principal partner, the French Embassy in Nigeria, the annual event continues to shape the future of one of the world’s fastest-growing creative industries. Its mission is simple: create pathways for Nigerian talent to learn, earn and compete in the global marketplace.

“Video games represent one of the largest entertainment industries in the world, yet Africa remains significantly underrepresented,” said Bukola Akingbade, Convener of Lagos Games Week.

“Our opportunity lies in exploring different pathways to build sustainable businesses that make games, generate intellectual property, create high-value jobs and export African creativity to the world.”

This year’s programme reflected that ambition. Developer sessions, industry roundtables and networking events connected Nigerian studios with international delegates, while discussions focused on the building blocks of a sustainable industry. From talent development and commercialisation to marketing, monetisation, publishing, esports and community building.

Representing the French Embassy in Nigeria, Christophe Pecot, Audiovisual Attaché, reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to supporting creative and technological collaboration between France and Nigeria, including initiatives that create international opportunities for Nigerian developers.

One of the strongest themes to emerge from the conference was that technical talent alone will not build a globally competitive industry. As Hugo Obi, Founder of Maliyo Games said: “The future is for collaborators, the future is for teams, the future is for communities.”

That message was reinforced throughout the conference by sessions from industry organisations including the Next Gen Summit, Woof Studios, She Got Game, Game Evo and Kon10dr, which explored careers, inclusion, leadership and the future of esports in Nigeria.

Lagos Games Week also continued its commitment to discovering and accelerating emerging studios through its annual Pitch Stage competition. With this year’s prize courtesy of the French Embassy in Nigeria, being an all-expenses-paid trip to Gamescom in Germany, providing direct access to publishers, investors and international partners.

The impact of initiatives such as the Pitch Stage is already becoming visible. Last year’s co-winning studio, Gazuntype, will release Go North on Xbox later this month, a milestone that demonstrates Nigerian studios are increasingly moving from promising concepts to commercially published games on global platforms.

For Lagos Games Week, these milestones are indicators of a broader shift. The future of Nigeria’s video games industry will not be defined by the number of talented developers it produces, but by the number of sustainable companies it builds, successful games it ships and jobs it creates.

As one of the world’s largest entertainment sectors continues to grow, Nigeria has an opportunity to define its own place within it. Lagos Games Week exists to help chart that path.

Lagos Games Week is an annual trade fair for video games. Held annually in Lagos, Nigeria; the event brings together video game enthusiasts, industry leaders and innovators from around the world for a unique celebration of creativity and collaboration in games.