Gaming is one sector that has a massive community around the world, although many African countries like Nigeria do not consider gaming as much of an income generating sector as they consider FinTech, Agriculture among other prolific sectors; gaming does not only have a massive community, it also generates a large revenue.
On the 2oth of April 2017, a quarterly report on the Global Gaming Market by Newzoo showed that 2.2 billion gamers across the globe are expected to generate $108.9 billion in game revenues in 2017 with most of it being from mobile games.
While the governments of many African countries neglect the gaming sector, the West African Gaming Expo (WAGE 17), is building up young West African techies as well as Startup companies through its technology conference and exhibition.
The conference and exhibition is a technology conference and exhibition in West Africa focusing on animation, video, mobile games and related products, bringing innovative professionals in an interactive entertainment industry.
The 2017 West African Gaming Expo is said to be aimed at bridging the gap of entry into the region’s gaming industry by bringing together stakeholders such as telecommunications companies, distributors /resellers, publishers, developers and creating opportunities where business can be done.
In partnership with Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (BIU), the German Games Industry Association, WAGE 17 will see attendees through a training process where coding, games development, animation creation will be taught.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in Hackathons/E-sport tournaments. Register to attend game development classes, and meet the creators of their favorite games.
Some of the speakers who reportedly will be present at the event include African’s best game developers such as; Abiola Olaniran ( CEO Gamsole Nigeria), Zubair Abubakar ( CEO Chop Up games Nigeria), Grace Olugbodi ( CEO BeGenio Games) and others from various countries in Western Africa.
The conference will also accommodate children under the age of 18 in the ‘under 18 Hackathon Pitch A Game’; a competition for young students and upcoming game developers where anyone below the age of 18 will have the opportunity to pitch a gaming Idea to a panel of judges.
According to Newzoo, in the year 2020, the global market would grow at a CAGR of +6.2% to reach $128.5 billion so, the possibility that young game developers in Nigeria will be one of the major income generators in the nearest future is as clear as sunlight since gaming in Nigeria has a large community and the advent of more Nigerian invented games will be highly praised and embraced.