Sports
Gaming the Future: Pedro Says Esports Entrepreneurs Are Nigeria’s Next Big Export
Joel Ajayi
The Chief Operating Officer of Esports Nigeria, Damilola Pedro, has expressed that the next generation of Nigerian exports may not only be footballers, but also gamers, game developers, and Esports entrepreneurs.
Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, Pedro emphasized the growing influence and potential of Esports in Nigeria.
“Esports is taking the stage—and so is the voice of an entire generation that has long been ignored, misunderstood, and underestimated,” he said.
“For decades, our youth have been told to put down the game controllers and ‘do something serious’ with their lives. Today, we’re here to say: they already are. The numbers don’t lie. Let’s talk facts.”
Pedro highlighted that the global video game industry is now worth over $180 billion—larger than the film and music industries combined. With over 3.3 billion gamers worldwide, Africa is projected to become the fastest-growing gaming population globally, with Nigeria expected to be at the forefront, projected to have one of the highest concentrations of gamers on the continent—and potentially the third largest globally.
“In 2023 alone, Esports tournaments awarded over $350 million in prize money,” he stated. “The Esports ecosystem now includes not only players, but also analysts, broadcasters, coaches, event producers, developers, marketers, and content creators.”
With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under 30, Pedro believes the country is perfectly positioned to harness this momentum.
“We are not just ripe for this moment—we are the movement,” he asserted. “This is the future of work.”
He described Esports as a multi-dimensional discipline that demands data analysis, strategic thinking, communication skills, leadership, and performance under pressure. At its core, he noted, Esports represents digital literacy at full throttle—precisely the kind of skill set the 21st-century economy demands.
“At a time when unemployment is rising and youth potential is either exported or wasted, we hold in our hands an industry that can educate, employ, and empower—without relying on a single drop of oil.”
“This demonstration is more than just a showcase—it is a validation,” he said. “Validation that a controller can be a tool for excellence. That gaming is not a phase, but a profession. That the next generation of Nigerian exports will include not just footballers, but also gamers, developers, and digital entrepreneurs.”
He concluded with a call to action:“We are ready for the Esports World Cup. We are coming for the Esports Olympics. More importantly, we are ready to lead Africa into a new era of digital competitiveness.
This is our call to the media, the nation, our journalists, storytellers, and cultural gatekeepers—we need you. Not just to cover this, but to help the nation understand it. Because how you report this moment will shape how millions of parents and young people view the future.”
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
