Lagos Ready to Lead Africa’s Gaming Revolution

Lagos Ready to Lead Africa’s Gaming Revolution – Sanwo-Olu
According to the Lagos government, the industry is now becoming more organised, transparent, and attractive to global investors
Peter Mebert encouraged African startups to think beyond local markets

Lagos State is setting its sights on a bigger role in Africa’s fast-growing gaming industry, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state is ready to lead that transformation, Eko Hot Blog reports.

Contents

EDITOR’S PICK
FURTHER READING

Speaking at the 3rd African Gaming Expo held in Victoria Island, the governor, represented by Secretary to the State Government Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the goal is clear, move Africa’s gaming sector from a largely informal space into a structured, globally competitive industry.

EDITOR’S PICK

For years, gaming across Africa operated on the fringes, often misunderstood and loosely regulated. But that narrative is changing. According to the Lagos government, the industry is now becoming more organised, transparent, and attractive to global investors.

Salu-Hundeyin noted that stronger regulations and better use of technology are helping to build trust in the sector. More importantly, gaming is no longer standing alone, it now connects with fintech, digital innovation, sports development, and youth engagement, making it a growing contributor to economic activity.

She stressed that when properly managed, the gaming industry has the potential to create jobs, attract investments, and significantly boost government revenue.

Lagos Rakes in N55.83bn as FAAC Shares N706bn Among States — Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu

Also speaking at the event, the CEO of the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, Bashir Are, said the expo is part of a broader effort to position Africa within the global gaming space.

According to him, the event is already making an impact beyond the conference halls driving tourism, increasing hotel bookings, and attracting international participants to Lagos.

He added that gaming is becoming a bridge to other industries, especially fintech and digital technology, while also giving local talents a platform to reach global audiences.

In his keynote, entrepreneur Peter Mebert encouraged African startups to think beyond local markets. With better access to infrastructure and talent, he said, the opportunity to scale globally has never been stronger.

However, he warned that many startups still struggle due to weak leadership, poor expansion strategies, and limited understanding of international markets.

Overall, the message from the expo was clear: Africa’s gaming industry is evolving fast, and with the right structure, investment, and strategy, it could become a major force in the global digital economy.