The Lagos State Sports Commission has thrown its weight behind the fourth edition of the Gamr X Africa E-sports tournament, which holds in Lagos on Friday (today).
Gamers from nine African countries will compete for a total cash prize of N15m at the tournament, which will be held at the Landmark Event Centre by noon.
Director-General of the commission, Lekan Fatodu, at a press conference held at the LSSC office on Thursday, said, “This event presents an opportunity for the government to tap into the huge market of E-sports.”
The participating countries include Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Cameroon, the Benin Republic, the Ivory Coast, South Africa and Nigeria.
Damilola Pedro, co-founder and head of partnerships at Gamr, said the gamers will be competing to be champions in six different game titles, including Street Fighter, EA FC 25, Fortnite, Mortal Kombat, PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile.
“This year and for other editions to come, there are certain things that we are trying to make different. To ensure that inclusion cuts across what we do and ensures that the specially abled are included in what we do,” Pedro said.
We are also driving a lot of female inclusion. There is a social belief that only men play games. But fortunately, we are lucky to be part of the generation where women do what men do and do it well.”
Pedro added that the organisers plan to take Gamr X from country to country as something that started in Nigeria and has become a global phenomenon.
She encouraged parents to stop condemning their ward’s love for video games as a waste of time, as it is now indeed a professional venture.
Fatodu said the LSSC will be aiding the event with logistics, monitoring and evaluation, and talent promotion.
“Our (Lagos government) fixation is not traditional sports like football, boxing and table tennis.
“We know that it is important for us to open new space and new opportunities for people with sporting interests that are not familiar to us,” he said.
