From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has identified technology and the decentralisation of regulatory powers as the twin pillars for transforming Nigeria’s gaming industry into a major driver of economic growth.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Urama, during the opening of the second edition at the Enugu Gaming Conference, Mbah said the state was committed to leveraging innovation to build a modern and well-regulated gaming ecosystem.
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The two-day conference, themed, ‘From unification to diversification: Shaping Nigeria’s gaming future,’ is organised by the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission.
“Over the past year, the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission has taken giant strides in regulatory transformation, and I am proud to share that we have invested in cutting-edge digital infrastructure aimed at raising the bar for regulatory excellence,” Mbah said.
He highlighted the launch of the Automated License Verification and Operator Registration Portal, an intelligent digital system that enables real-time tracking, licensing and validation of operators across the state.
“This innovation has drastically reduced manual interference, minimised the risk of fraud and ensured compliance with our gaming laws,” he added.
He further announced upcoming plans to deploy advanced technology and public awareness campaigns focused on responsible gaming, protection of vulnerable populations and elimination of underage gambling.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, said the Nigerian gaming industry was undergoing a critical evolution, calling for a decentralised framework aligned with local realities and economic goals. “Unification gave us a framework. Diversification now demands that we tailor that framework to local realities, economic priorities and constitutional responsibilities,” Arum stated. Representing the National Commissioner of the National Data Protection Commission, Vincent Olatunji, Alexander Owen emphasised the need for strong privacy and age-verification protocols, warning that data collection on gaming platforms must remain limited, necessary and consensual.
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