Nigeria targets $200bn Global Games Market at Lagos Games Week 2026

Chinedum Ukaegbu

Lagos Games Week is set to return to the iconic National Theatre from June 18 to 19, 2026, with renewed momentum and a strategic vision to position Nigeria as a competitive player in the estimated $200 billion global gaming industry.

Now in its third year, the event continues to drive its long-term objective of fostering the growth of African game studios capable of generating up to $100 million in annual revenue by 2030.

Organisers say the initiative is designed not just as an event, but as a catalyst for building a sustainable gaming ecosystem across the continent.

The strategy underpinning Lagos Games Week focuses on four key pillars: talent development, activation of the local market, expansion of external development capacity, and the creation of original intellectual property (IP).

These elements are considered critical to enabling Nigeria to move from a consumer market to a producer within the global gaming value chain.

Despite Nigeria’s vast human capital—with over 600,000 graduates produced annually across engineering, design, computer science, and related disciplines—the country’s gaming ecosystem is still in its early stages of development.

Stakeholders believe this gap presents both a challenge and a significant opportunity.

Convener of Lagos Games Week and Founder of Kucheza Gaming, Bukola Akingbade, emphasised the need for global collaboration and exposure.

“We want the world to see us as partners in creating games that matter. We have talent, a favourable time zone, creativity, and our well-known hustle mindset, but what we need are opportunities to learn and earn,” she said.

According to her, the 2026 edition will reinforce this mission by showcasing original Nigerian intellectual property through initiatives such as the Pitch Stage and Indie Games Showcase.

These platforms are expected to provide local developers with opportunities to present their work to international investors, publishers, and collaborators.

The event will also deepen Nigeria’s integration into the global gaming ecosystem, with the participation of international publishers and studios, including Focus Entertainment, Oceanview Group, and Ubisoft.

These organisations are expected to engage in panel sessions, workshops, and creator engagements aimed at fostering cross-border partnerships.

Further strengthening the event’s global outlook, longstanding partners such as the French Embassy in Nigeria have expanded their support for the 2026 edition. In addition, global non-profit organisation Global Game Jam will host its first Pan-African game jam during Lagos Games Week, bringing together developers from across the continent.

Another major highlight is the Next Gen Summit, led by Games for Change. The initiative is tailored toward secondary school students, with a focus on introducing them to career opportunities in gaming, storytelling, and interactive technology.

Program Director for Games for Change Africa, Dr. Amy Duncan, underscored the importance of early exposure to the industry.

“The event will connect students to hands-on experiences in game design and to industry professionals. They can build skills, understand career opportunities, unlock their creativity, and most importantly, experience the power of community, inclusion, and belonging,” she said.

Also speaking, Cultural Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, Christophe Pécot, reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to supporting the growth of Nigeria’s gaming and esports ecosystem.

“We are proud to continue our support of Lagos Games Week and the local video games and esports ecosystem. The games industry can mobilise and strengthen Nigerian youths’ access to career opportunities, economic stability, and public engagement,” he noted.

With submissions for the Pitch Stage and Indie Games Showcase already open since April, stakeholders say Lagos Games Week 2026 is shaping up to be a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey to secure a meaningful place in the global gaming value chain.