NSC, NCC Seal Strategic Pact to Drive Nigeria’s E-Sports Ambition
Oru Leonard
Nigeria is making a decisive push into the global digital sports arena as the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) move to position the country as a leading e-sports hub.
This follows a high-level meeting in Abuja where NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, led a delegation on a strategic visit to NCC Chairman, Idris Olorunbe, to forge a partnership aimed at accelerating sports digitalisation and strengthening Nigeria’s e-sports ecosystem.
Speaking during the engagement, Olopade underscored the Commission’s readiness to embrace technology as a catalyst for sports development, noting that collaboration with the NCC would enhance connectivity, boost sponsorship opportunities, and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in e-sports.
He stressed that private sector participation—particularly through Corporate Social Responsibility—would be critical in building a modern sports ecosystem driven by digital innovation. According to him, improved internet infrastructure and gaming facilities are essential for Nigerian athletes to compete globally.
In his response, Olorunbe signaled strong institutional backing for the initiative, describing e-sports as a viable extension of traditional sports with vast economic potential. He noted that the proposed collaboration goes beyond athletics, touching on youth employment, digital innovation, and national branding.
He also called for the development of gaming hubs, improved broadband capacity, and enabling policies to unlock the country’s growing talent pool in the digital gaming space.
Both agencies agreed to establish a joint technical working group tasked with developing a comprehensive roadmap for sports digitalisation, including the structuring of e-sports leagues and strategies to attract corporate sponsorship into the sector.
The emerging NSC–NCC alliance is being seen as a landmark move—potentially the first coordinated effort between Nigeria’s sports and telecommunications regulators to build a sustainable digital sports economy and position the country as a major force in global e-sports.
