Safaricom conference drives effort to keep African gaming talent at home
Conference spotlights policies, investment and opportunities to nurture local gaming talent and grow Africa’s gaming industry.
Kenya.- Kenya’s largest telecoms company, Safaricom, hosted its first-ever Level Up Gaming Conference, highlighting key challenges and opportunities in Africa’s gaming ecosystem, with a central focus on keeping African gaming talent at home rather than losing it to international markets.
The event drew gamers, developers, investors and policymakers from across the continent to explore strategies that strengthen local opportunities, foster innovation and build a thriving gaming industry.
Themed “Level Up Africa: Unlocking Gaming Potential in Africa” and held in the city of Nairobi, the event spotlighted Safaricom’s mission to keep Africa’s gaming talent within Africa. It recognised gaming as a platform for talent, creativity and opportunity.
Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom, said: “Gaming is more than just play. It is talent, creativity and opportunity. At Safaricom, we believe in powering the youth and building platforms where skills can turn into careers, innovations and thriving communities.”
Panels and discussions emphasised the need for stronger policies and increased investment for developers to ensure Africa’s best gaming minds have the resources and support to succeed locally.
The conference also celebrated Africa’s pop culture, featuring movies, television shows, music, cosplay, live performances and merchandise exhibitions, blending industry insight with a vibrant showcase of creativity.
Safaricom has long championed local gaming in Kenya. Last year, the Wai Ndai 90-day challenge awarded KSh500,000 (€3,400) in daily cash vouchers and three Suzuki Alto vehicles.
Its 2019 eSports tournament with Pro Series Gaming mentored youth aged 18 to 26 exploring gaming careers. In 2021, the MobiPlay Challenge engaged players in an eight-week online competition with daily, weekly and grand prizes.
Most recently, Safaricom powered the 2025 Otamatsuri Gaming Convention with its 5G network, enabling seamless, low-latency gameplay and online interactions. By focusing on talent retention, policy, investment and technology, Safaricom is positioning Africa as a hub of opportunity and creativity in the global gaming industry.
