Gaming and Africa’s youth: Opportunities, challenges, and future pathways

⏰ 16:00–17:30 EAT / 14:00–15:30 CET / 13:00-14:30 UTC

Background and rationale

The largest and fastest-growing youth population in the world, African youth, faces a severe unemployment crisis, with millions of young people unable to find sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, the continent’s digital revolution has given rise to a vibrant gaming culture that cuts across geography, class, and language.

While gaming is often seen as mere entertainment, it has emerged globally as a powerful creative industry and one of the largest economic sectors —producing jobs, exports, and innovation. Africa’s youth are not only eager consumers of games but also potential creators, entrepreneurs, and competitors in this dynamic field.

The question is: Can Africa transform its youth gaming culture into a productive, ethical, and inclusive economic force?

Objectives

• Explore the potential of the African gaming industry as a driver of youth employment and entrepreneurship.
• Examine the educational, psychological, and social dimensions of gaming—how it can support learning, mental health, and positive engagement.
• Discuss the economic opportunities of digital gaming as a cross-border, foreign-currency-earning sector.
• Debate the risks associated with gaming—addiction, time loss, gambling, and the lack of regulation.
• Identify policy, investment, and capacity-building strategies to ensure that gaming supports instead of undermining Africa’s youth potential.

The webinar will explore gaming as an industry and as an educational and development tool which is expected to rise as a continental opportunity. Despite its potential, gaming has inherent risks and ethical concerns and therefore needs governance and regulation.

Expected outcomes

• A shared understanding of gaming’s role in Africa’s youth economy.
• Identification of policy gaps and opportunities for government, industry, and academia.
• Inspiration for youth participation in game development, e-sports, and creative entrepreneurship.
• Recommendations for ethical and responsible gaming practices in Africa.