In 2023 alone, Nigerians spent more than $200 million on mobile games. Does that amaze you? Who would have thought the social entertainment industry would grow to this stage in Nigeria?
But here we are, with gaming content creators smiling to the bank, especially those who recently participated in a $10,000 Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) tournament. Even though $10,000 might sound like a lot, it only scratches the surface.
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Omniverse and major collaborations to boost Nigerian eSports with $1 million prize pools
Now, Omniverse is raising the stakes through collaborations with major players such as Ultimate Endgamers League (UEL), Unanimous Games, and Evolution eSports for gaming competitions with an eye-popping $1 million prize money. Yes, it will be one million dollars worth of prizes for Nigerian gamers.
Challenges facing Nigerian gamers
These opportunities hold grids for Nigerian gamers, but many still need to explore them. Why? As we all know, the reason for this is they can’t afford to travel. Charles Emembolu, co-convener of Omniverse Africa, frowned over the development. Many talented gamers we hear coming from cities such as Jos are often unable to make it to Lagos for national events, not to mention international ones.
This shows the small development of eSports in Nigeria, for it is still in the developmental stages, whereas gamers in the U.S. can earn up to $410,000 annually. Some have even signed multi-million dollar contracts, so the challenges currently being faced in Nigeria are even worse.
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The rise of Nigerian gaming content creators and CODM server launch
Simply as it did with the tournaments, Omniverse Africa isn’t done with them. They’re also establishing international markets for Nigerian game developers. In the latest collaboration, five Nigerian games will become international products. This could boost the nascent gaming industry in the country since it will allow local game developers to be awarded on the international market.
Gaming is not entertainment. It has become a business itself, and it is booming. Fellow Nigerians have also contributed to this growth and the creation of new gaming content creators/professionals. These creators even helped bring a dedicated CODM server to Nigeria, making it easier for local gamers to connect and compete.