Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, has unveiled plans to revamp Nigeria’s video game animation sector by infusing local movies, music, fashion, and cultural elements into every locally produced game.
During the Xbox Developer Hangout organized by Microsoft in Lagos, Musawa highlighted the vast employment opportunities for the youth within this sector.
Expressing her vision, Musawa emphasized the potential for innovation within the gaming space, leveraging the abundant talent in Nigeria. She underscored the significance of collaborations, specifically citing Microsoft’s consultations, as pivotal to realizing this ambition. Musawa revealed that a comprehensive plan had been drafted to execute this initiative, seeking input and support from Microsoft.
Highlighting the creative capacity of Nigerians, Musawa envisioned a transformed gaming industry supported by the government and bolstered by indigenous content. She expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, recognizing it as a critical step toward achieving these transformative goals.
Olatomiwa Williams, Microsoft’s Country Manager, reiterated the commitment to empower individuals with the necessary tools for industry growth. Stressing the importance of economic diversification in alignment with President Tinubu’s agenda, Williams emphasized Microsoft’s enthusiasm in partnering with the Federal Government and fostering inclusivity, particularly for women in the gaming sector.
Experts within the industry, including Oluseye Soyode-Johnson, Founder of NuConti, emphasized the vast potential of the video game industry, underscoring its billion-dollar scale and the need for strategic attention.
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Matthew Isikhuemen from Unreal Engine highlighted various crucial tools for video game development, including grants, education, and marketplaces. Winston Ohunyon, Creative Director at Dimension II Games, stressed the importance of storytelling and cultural representation within games to preserve national identity.
Supporting inclusivity in the video game industry, Dooshima Anger, Founder of Dooshimagames, called for increased collaborations and awareness. Bolaji Akingbade, CEO of Kucheza, highlighted the need for greater participation of women in the sector, advocating for early interventions at the secondary school level to promote engagement and representation.
