For too long, the value of video gaming and immersive media has been overlooked in the African creative space. While sectors like music (Afrobeats) and film (Nollywood) rightly receive significant global attention and investment, the technology-driven digital arts often struggle for prominence.

This is why Africacomicade is tackling such challenges with its annual Gamathon event, aiming to give video gaming the recognition it deserves as a powerful economic force. It serves as a platform that celebrates African digital creatives while fostering collaboration, funding, and learning opportunities.

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The annual event started in 2020 as a virtual Pan-African gaming event where developers from across the continent connect to build games. The event to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, is the grand finale of this year’s continental tour, following successful Gamathon stops in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. 

Gamathon 25 will take place from September 29th to October 4th, 2025, driving collaboration, learning, and investment into Africa’s fastest-growing creative sector.

According to Michael Oscar, founder of Africacomicade, the Gamathon is not just a showcase; it’s a critical effort to legitimise and mature the digital creative economy. The event targets Africa’s fast-growing games and creative tech market, aiming to position African youth as creators in the global digital economy rather than just consumers.

“The regional tours in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa have demonstrated the immense talent and potential across our continent. Gamathon Nigeria represents the culmination of these efforts, creating bridges between regions and sectors while establishing pathways for youth empowerment, investment, job creation, and socio-economic growth,” Micheal said.

He added that the next billion players are coming from the continent. “It’s crucial to position our youth as creators to ensure a sustainable future for our society and economy.”

The convention helps African youths move beyond being just consumers of digital products, positioning them also as high-value creators ready to compete in the global digital economy. By bringing together professionals, investors, and consumers, the event directly addresses the industry’s biggest roadblocks: a lack of funding, mentorship, and business infrastructure.

How Africacomicade is building Nigeria’s digital future through gaming

Africacomicade is focused on transforming Nigeria’s creative economy by elevating video gaming and immersive media (like Augmented and Extended Reality, or AR/XR) from a niche interest to a sustainable, high-impact industry.

This creative tech sector includes everything from the development of complex video games and educational tools to simple social media filters and animations (cartoons, anime, and comics).

The organisation recognises that video games are more than just entertainment; they are a powerful medium for communication that can be used for education, visualisation, and social impact. 

Africacomicade runs several key programs tailored to different career stages:

1. ARC Fellowship (The Business Builders): This is the flagship program, targeting existing entrepreneurs and studios who have a project ready to launch. It acts as a business pre-accelerator, connecting founders to funding, prototype grants, pitch training, and exchange opportunities. The focus here is on scaling businesses and creating industry leaders.
2. Spark Fellowship (The New Talent): This program is for youths and young adults who want to join the industry but need foundational skills in game development, animation, or XR projects. It provides the necessary training to quickly get them into the workforce.
3. E-Africa Challenge (The Impact Makers): This initiative focuses on teaching creatives and business leaders how to use gaming and immersive media for social entrepreneurship, applying their skills to make an impact through gamification, game-based learning, and educational visualisation projects.
4. Creatives Program (The Future Pipeline): This program targets teenagers and children, introducing them to game building early. The focus is purely on inspiration and learning, ensuring a long-term pipeline of talent for the future.

Africacomicade’s mission is to build a robust ecosystem that supports creators at every stage of their journey, ensuring the video gaming industry’s long-term growth and success.