LWG: Nigeria pushes to build games economy

The question for Nigeria’s video game industry is no longer whether local developers can build world-class games. It is whether the ecosystem can finance and scale them.

That was the focus of Lagos Games Week 2026. The event suppprted by the French Embassy in Nigeria, brought together game creators, investors, tech companies and government officials to map out how Nigeria can become a serious player in the $200 billion global games industry.

Experts highlighted Nigeria’s young, digital-native population and growing creative talent, but said the sector needs venture capital, distribution deals, training pipelines and policy support to turn talent into companies and exports.

“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.

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. This year’s prize, courtesy of the French Embassy in Nigeria, is an all-expenses-paid trip to Gamescom in Germany, providing direct access to publishers, investors and international partners.