Sports
Esports in Nigeria Reaches New Heights—A Moment to Remember
By Joel Ajayi
As the curtain falls on what will be remembered as a landmark moment in Nigerian sports history, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the first-ever Esports Demonstration at the National Sports Festival a resounding success.
For the first time ever, Esports took center stage at the Festival.
What was once considered a distant possibility has now become a powerful reality—witnessed, celebrated, and competed in by some of Nigeria’s brightest gaming talents.
We are deeply grateful to the individuals and institutions who not only embraced this moment but elevated it. What began with a modest prize pool of ₦2 million was generously increased to ₦10 million—a clear testament to the growing belief that Esports matters.
Our sincere appreciation goes to:
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, who contributed ₦4 million.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission, who contributed ₦3 million
The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, who added ₦1 million
Their combined support transformed ambition into impact.
We also celebrate two outstanding champions:
John Okan, representing Lagos, who emerged victorious in the EAFC title, taking home ₦1.5 million
Shehu Mansur, representing the FCT, who claimed the top spot in Street Fighter, also winning ₦1.5 million
To both, and to every competitor who showed up with skill, passion, and hunger—thank you. You’ve made history.
But this is only the beginning. The Esports Federation is already working on a long-term sustainability and grassroots development strategy to ensure that what has been built here does not fade after the spotlight, but instead grows deeper roots. This plan will be unveiled in collaboration with our media partners and stakeholders in the coming weeks.
To the Federal Government of Nigeria, thank you for believing in innovation, youth potential, and the promise of a digital future. Your support is not only recognized—it is deeply appreciated.
To our friends in the media, we look forward to welcoming you to Lagos Games Week, kicking off on June 19th.
There’s more to unveil, more to celebrate, and even more to build—together. It promises to be another bold chapter in the evolution of Nigeria’s video games landscape.
Nigeria has spoken. Esports is here—and it’s only going up from here.
Sports
Vipers VC celebrate captain Esther Mbah on birthday
Cyril Ogar
Vipers Volleyball Club have felicitated with their captain, Esther Mbah on the occasion of her birthday.
In a statement signed by the Vipers VC Team Manager, Suraj Abiodun Jabar; the club described Mbah as a leader who has consistently demonstrated excellence both on and off the court.
The statement also praised the Nigerian international for her valuable contributions to the club.
The statement mentioned her role in guiding Vipers to a second-place finish at the 2026 CAVB Zone 3 Club Championship in Ghana.
It read: “The management of Vipers Volleyball Club wants to celebrate Esther Mbah on the occasion of her birthday.
“She has been an asset to Vipers since joining the club, demonstrating outstanding commitment, dedication and leadership.
“Her contributions to the growth and success of the team have been invaluable.
“We appreciate her efforts, professionalism and the positive influence she continues to have on her teammates. We wish her more successful years ahead, good health and greater achievements.”
The club concluded its birthday message by wishing the experienced player continued success as she leads the team towards achieving more honours.
Beyond her achievements at club level, Mbah won a bronze medal for Nigeria at the 2024 African Games in Ghana, further establishing herself as one of the country’s accomplished volleyball players.
She has also secured qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, adding another milestone to her growing career.
In their separate messages, board members of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, James Datuhun and Chinedu Onikeku (OLY) as well as Coordinator of Vipers VC, Samuel Onikeku wished the Nigeria international a glamorous birthday.
They hailed Esther Mbah for exhibiting a high level of leadership trait since joining the team.
The stakeholders prayed for good health and ultimately success as she prepares for the Beach Volleyball event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
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