•State ready to host 2025 Gaming Conference
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Enugu State has taken a leap from obscurity to the forefront of conversations in the gaming sector in Nigeria.
This followed intentional actions taken by the Enugu State Gaming Commission in the last one and a half years, in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s directives.
Executive Secretary/CEO, Enugu State Gaming Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, confirmed this, yesterday, at a press conference to herald the commencement of activities leading up to the 2025 Enugu Gaming Conference.
According to Arum, the 2025 conference, themed, “From Unification to Diversification: Shaping Nigeria’s Gaming Future,” would be held on July 30 and 31, 2025, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Reviewing developments since the first edition of the conference last year, the Executive Secretary/CEO said: “Our aim of putting together this conference last year was to start the conversation that Enugu is a viable market for gaming, while we also joined in the discussions around gaming, promoting responsible gaming and all that. And we achieved quite remarkable success in that regard, for the fact that Enugu is now a very fast growing gaming market. And investors are inquiring, coming in, we know a number of licences that we’ve issued out. A lot of operators are coming into Enugu and they are identifying the potentials we have here.
“You know there is a nexus between gaming, entertainment and tourism, so we tried to highlight that in the last edition, and as our tourism potential is being harnessed, our tourism sector is witnessing growth, gaming also growing.
“Lagos is mainly the big market when it comes to Nigeria. Our ambition is to take Enugu to that level of market that Lagos enjoys, and we are on track to do that because where we are, today, in terms of the market activity, if you do a market analysis last year and this year, you will understand that we’ve taken quite a leap from obscurity to the forefront of the conversation once gaming is mentioned in Nigeria.”
He said that this year’s edition theme reflects not only the current trajectory of the gaming sector in Nigeria, but also the bold and necessary conversations the sector must have in response to the growing diversity of players, regulators, technologies and jurisdictional realities that characterise the industry today.
He said: “As we all know, the Nigerian gaming landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. From the once monolithic structure of centralised regulation, we are now witnessing a shift towards state-led frameworks, technological adoption and deeper socio-economic implications. This diversification, though challenging, offers a unique opportunity for innovation, inclusion and growth, particularly when guided by collaboration and shared values.
“The Enugu Gaming Conference 2025 aims to bring together regulators, operators, technology providers, legal experts, financial institutions and public interest groups from across Nigeria and beyond. Our collective goal is to create a platform for open dialogue, policy harmonisation and the advancement of responsible gaming practices.”
He gave key highlights of the two-day event to include: Panel sessions featuring thought leaders and top executives from across the gaming value chain; exhibitions showcasing emerging technologies and regulatory solutions; formal unveiling of the commission’s Good Cause Projects in line with global best practices; strategic roundtables with government agencies, investors, and civil society and targeted networking opportunities for startups, innovators and operators seeking expansion into the South East market.
While expressing the commitment of the commission to its role as a progressive and proactive regulator , who believes that fostering a well-structured, transparent and socially responsible gaming environment was essential to driving sustainable development within the sector and unlocking its full economic potential, Arum, appreciated their partners, Events Arcade Solutions Limited, co-organisers and other media and corporate sponsors that had continuously supported them since inception.
He assured that the conference would be more than just a gathering as it would be a catalyst for reform, innovation and partnership.