Lagos has made a notable impact at the Paris 2024 Olympics by hosting a landmark event focused on the intersection of esports and the sports economy. The Lagos Paris Olympics 2024 Esports and Sports Economy Roundtable took place at the Africa Station Doom in L’Île-Saint-Denis, Paris, and has garnered significant global attention.
The roundtable, themed ‘Exploring New Frontiers and Business Opportunities in Sports,’ was led by Lekan Fatodu, Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission. This high-profile event, held alongside the Paris Olympics, underscored the Lagos State Government’s commitment to advancing sports development and fostering international collaboration under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Fatodu highlighted how Lagos has utilized the global stage of the Paris Olympics to showcase its sports ambitions. “The roundtable has not only elevated Lagos’s international profile but has also opened new economic avenues through sports. The world is now watching to see how Lagos will capitalize on this momentum. As one participant noted, ‘Lagos has not just entered the global sports conversation; it has positioned itself to lead it,’” Fatodu stated.
The event focused on various aspects of sports development, with particular emphasis on the booming esports sector. It attracted a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, investors, and representatives from leading international sports organizations.
Panelists included notable figures such as Désiré Koussawo, President of France Esports; Lekan Ajisafe, philanthropist and sports enthusiast; Hon. Abiodun Orekoya, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Sports; and Mobolaji Ogunlende, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development. They discussed creating opportunities across the sports value chain for a sustainable sports economy and how investors can leverage Lagos’s growing prominence in the industry.
Other speakers offering insights into advancing the esports business in Nigeria included Lanre Alfred, CEO of Old English; Damilare Orimoloye, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports; Deji Omotoyinbo, veteran sports broadcaster; Tella Abiodun, CEO of G2P Sports Limited; Dr. Kweku Tandoh, renowned sports specialist and President of the Nigerian Badminton Federation; and Frank Orbih.
The roundtable has positioned Lagos as a key player in the global sports dialogue, emphasizing its role as a leader in the evolving sports economy.
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