Day one of the biannual international gaming conference recorded a resounding success. Nigeria hosted a gathering of influential stakeholders, industry leaders, and leading international gaming operators.
Distinguished members of the gaming industry and regulators convened at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, to network, collaborate, and discuss topical and contemporary issues affecting the growth and development of the gaming sector in Nigeria.
The panels at the event were Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC); Zephaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs; Ahmed Aliyu Abdullahi, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs; Samuel Awuku, Director General of National Lottery Authority, Ghana, ably represented by the Deputy Director General Anna Horma Miezeh; Emolemo Peter Kesitilwe, Acting CEO of Botswana Gambling Authority; Dr. Mrs. Ibiene Roberts, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Special Duties; Dr. Bello Maigari, the Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund; and Professor Rachel Volberg of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA among many distinguished international delegations and industry stakeholders.
The conference, themed “Innovation and Disruption in the Nigerian Gaming Industry: Core Strategies for Success,” provided innovations and solutions to the disruptions the industry has experienced for many years.
Lanre Gbajabiamila, OON, emphasized how exploring and embracing transformation potentials can contribute to NLRC’s mission of reinvigorating the lottery industry and envisioning it as a substantial source of revenue for Nigeria.
“The gaming sector, we believe, holds the key to economic growth. The need to constantly adapt and evolve in this dynamic environment is crucial for the industry and our nation,” said Lanre Gbajabiamila, NLRC Director General.
Also, Dr. Bello Maigari led the audience through the critical importance of harnessing technology in promoting good governance of the lottery and gaming industry in Nigeria.
“It is essential that we adapt and leverage relevant technologies to ensure that our nation’s interest in a return to good causes is protected, our citizens are safeguarded, and our regulatory framework remains very effective” – Dr. Bello Maigari, the Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund.
He revealed innovative and fascinating insights on how to curb fraudulent activities in the gaming industry. “I will suggest that our industries should leverage data analytics and artificial intelligence to harness, detect, and prevent fraudulent activities such as match-fixing, or cheating in online games”, Dr Maigari said.
Furthermore, Minister Zephaniah Jisalo, ably representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, spoke about the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the gaming industry under the President’s leadership.
“The FG will do all within its statutory power to ensure that the gaming industry remains on the steady path of sustainable growth and development.
Therefore, we implore all operators to remain compliant, and relevant agencies to shun dichotomy and strengthen interagency collaboration to consolidate the progress in taking the gaming industry to greater heights” – Zephaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Finally, during the event, papers were presented, and stakeholders held a panel discussion to address and bring innovative solutions to the challenges inhibiting the industry’s growth.