As part of measures targeted at ensuring innovation and consumer safety within the gaming industry, the Oyo State government has called for a more robust collaboration between the government, industry players, regulators, and consumer rights groups.
This call was made during the 6th edition of Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum tagged “Boom or Burst”, organized by the Oyo state Gaming and Lottery Board.
The event, which held in Ibadan on Wednesday, November 20, witnessed the convergence of industry stakeholders, where the need for a balanced approach that fosters growth without compromising the safety and well-being of players, was addressed.
The Chief of Staff to the Oyo state governor, Honorable Segun Ogunwuyi represented by the Governor’s Office Permanent Secretary, Cabinet, Mr Akeem Salami, lauded the consistency in the annual stakeholders event which has continued to impact positively on the state’s economy.
Ogunwuyi, who called for a robust framework that guarantees protection of players urged stakeholders and gaming companies to ensure strict compliance with all the industry regulations including transparency and data protection.
Westernmirror.com.ng reports that the gaming industry in Nigeria has seen explosive growth in recent years, with both international and local developers racing to meet the growing demand for video games, mobile apps, and online gaming platforms.
This online newspaper also reports that this rapid expansion has raised concerns about the potential risks to consumers, including exposure to addictive gameplay, microtransactions, data privacy breaches, and inappropriate content for younger audiences.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director-General, Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, Mr. Olajide Boladuro, emphasized the importance of collaboration between stakeholders involved in the gaming ecosystem.
While expressing his appreciation to the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for providing the needed enabling environment in the state for businesses to thrive, Boladuro expressed the commitment of the state government towards ensuring fairness, strict compliance to gaming regulations, and a level playing ground for both investors and players.
Addressing newsmen, Boladuro stated that innovation in the gaming industry was crucial to driving the state’s economy forward, but maintained that it could not come at the expense of consumer protection.
“As a government, we are committed to ensuring that our citizens, particularly young people, are protected from potential harm while still enjoying the benefits of this vibrant industry.
“We’re here today because it’s our 6th stakeholders forum. This is a yearly event that we do that brings our operators together, and basically all the stakeholders in the entire industry for them to come and deliberate and give us their own perspectives on how we’re doing, and for us to share ideas because the gaming industry has evolved.
“So, we titled this year’s edition ‘Boom or Burst’, in the sense that the way things are evolving technologically and a whole lot of other ways, is it helping the industry or bursting it? That’s how we came up with this year’s theme.
“So, we want to engage our stakeholders in the industry both in lotto, sports betting, online betting platforms, to understand how this is being impactful on their businesses and also to we that are the regulators as well.
The meeting, which was attended by industry leaders, game developers, consumer rights advocates, and regulatory bodies, discussed several key initiatives to strike a balance between progress and safety which include stronger age verification system, transparency, data privacy and security, and addiction prevention mechanisms among others.
In their separate remarks and submissions during a panel session, stakeholders welcomed the government’s initiative but cautioned that regulatory measures should not stifle creativity or innovation.
While acknowledging the importance of consumer protection, stakeholders noted that it was essential that regulations are not so restrictive that they hamper the creativity of developers.
They also maintained that partnership approach, where government, industry, and consumers collaborate, remains key to ensuring that the industry protects both players and the integrity of the gaming ecosystem.
The Oyo State government has also pledged to work with all relevant bodies to implement frameworks that address these concerns while also supporting the growth of the local gaming sector