Sayo Owolabi is driving the Nigerian Esports ecosystem into the inaugural edition of the Olympic Esports Games, which will take place in 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In his bid to do so, the secretary general at the Africa Esports Development Federation has faced major challenges in the form of infrastructure, sponsorship, and talent pipelines, resulting in him calling the stakeholders across the board — government, players, sponsors, and fans — to unite.
Overall, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted a 3% growth in Nigeria’s middle-income economy, with a GDP of over $500 billion. It’s the 53rd largest economy in the world and fourth in Africa.
“Take it or leave it, they will leave as just gamers/players but will return as “Olympians,” he was quoted as saying by guardian.ng.
“Our performance in Riyadh will set the tone for how the world perceives Nigerian Esports. It’s about proving that we can compete with the best and building a legacy that inspires future generations,” he explained.
He has witnessed the pool of Esports from the grassroots level. He said, “Nigeria has a wealth of talent. What we need is strategic investment in infrastructure, training programs, and global partnerships to unlock our potential on the world stage,” Owolabi said.
“With the right mix of talent, preparation, and support, Nigeria has the potential to not only participate but to excel on this historic stage,” he adds.
But collaborations and partnerships will remain at the core of the growth, “collaborations with corporate sponsors and technology companies for financial and logistical support will go a long way in ensuring that Nigeria’s outing in Riyadh is a great success.
“This is a non-negotiable factor especially when one considers the level of physical and digital infrastructure required for the Virtual Pillar of the Esports titles. Both endemic and non-endemic brand will come to play here as they have both business and marketing benefits,” he also said.