Lagos Games Week returns to drive Nigeria’s stake in $200bn global industry

Lagos Games Week returns to the iconic National Theatre on 18–19 June with a clear ambition to position Nigeria as a competitive contributor to the $200 billion global games industry.

Now in its third year, Lagos Games Week remains committed to its long-term goal of catalysing the emergence of African game studios capable of generating $100 million in annual revenue by 2030. The strategy is anchored on talent development, local market activation, external development capacity, and the creation of original IP.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, produces over 600,000 graduates annually across engineering, design, computer science, and related fields. Yet the nation’s game development ecosystem remains early-stage.

“We want the world to see us as partners in creating games that matter,” said Bukola Akingbade, convener of Lagos Games Week and founder of Kucheza Gaming. “We have talent, a favourable time zone, creativity, and our well-known hustle mindset, but what we need are opportunities to learn and earn.”

This year’s edition reinforces that mission, showcasing original Nigerian IP through the Pitch Stage and Indie Games Showcase while deepening integration with the global value chain. International publishers and studios, including Focus Entertainment, Oceanview Group, and Ubisoft, will participate in sessions and creator engagements aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration.

A longstanding partner, the French Embassy in Nigeria, has expanded its support for 2026. The global non-profit Global Game Jam will host the first Lagos Games Week

Pan-African game jam, while Games for Change leads the Next Gen Summit, an initiative designed to educate, inspire, and empower secondary school students to explore careers in gaming, storytelling, and interactive technology.

Dr. Amy Duncan, Program Director for Games for Change Africa, emphasised the importance of the initiative:
“By connecting 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.”

Christophe PECOT, cultural attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, added:
“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.”
With submissions for the Pitch Stage and Indie Games Showcase opening in April, Lagos Games Week 2026 is shaping up to be a defining moment in Nigeria’s effort to secure its place in the global games value chain.