Gambling charity to host summit to address underage betting in Nigeria
Summit to collaborate with industry stakeholders and provide support services for minors with gambling problems.
Nigeria.- Gambling charity Gaming Safe (GamSafe) Initiative has announced that it will be hosting a summit in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, to address the risks of underage gambling.
Titled “FCT’s Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Summit 2025”, the conference will take place on June 19 at the Velodrome National Stadium.
Discussions at the summit will focus on the theme “Building a strong and sustainable gambling harm prevention ecosystem for young people through societal & policy reforms”.
Attendees at the forum will include students and representatives from public and private secondary schools in the FCT, as well as civic organisations, youth groups, stakeholders, religious institutions and parents.
Barrister Immaculata Amaka Mbaso, Founder and CEO of GamSafe Initiative, said: “The summit will bring stakeholders, students, teachers, parents, youths, etc together at the venue to discuss ways and strategies for preventing under-age gambling and equipping families, schools and community on what to watch out for and ways to curb and prevent this often over-looked but dangerous vice that has the tendency to co-occur with other vices like drugs and alcohol.
“It is also aimed at finding ways to support young people affected by gambling-related harm through informed evidence-based policies and regulations.”
Mbaso also said that the summit will collaborate with industry stakeholders to prevent underage gambling, as well as provide effective support services for individuals, particularly minors struggling with gambling issues.
According to a survey by African Gaming Market Report in 2022, 78% of Nigerian youths engage in gambling, including online sports betting.
GamSafe plans to tackle this by working with key stakeholders like government agencies, schools, religious organisations and concerned individuals to develop proactive school programs that improve learning outcomes and empower young people with the skills to resist the negative impacts of underage gambling.
