By CHRISTIAN NJOKU

The Nigeria eSports Federation said it has been awarded the hosting right for the 42 African nations scheduled for March.

He said that It is the first ever qualifiers for the 2024 eSports World Cup billed to take place in China.

Agbor Ayuk, Chairman of the Nigeria eSports Federation disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Monday in Calabar.

Ayuk said that the federation had an understanding with the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Nigeria Universities Games Association, (NUGA) and were also a member of the Confederation of Africa eSports.

The chairman said in the past, people played eSports for leisure but at present, people played while they made money.

We have three billion gamers all over the world, so Nigeria should not be left out. That is why we are pushing to create more enlightenment on eSports in the country.

Out of the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 25 states including Cross River, already have their associations affiliated to the Nigeria eSports Federation, he said.

He said that the Federation was trying to overcome some of its challenges, which include parents not understanding what their kids are doing and keep fighting them.

Ayuk said that there was no child engaging in eSports that is not doing well in school because of the high intellectual capacity required for the game.

He said there was also the problem of data in Nigeria, although he was grateful that one of the telecommunication giants in the nation had introduced the 5G network.

The chairman said very soon gaming would be very popular in Nigeria because it has the ability to bring out the best in people.

He said that for various professional certifications to be a gamer, one has to visit the associations website where there are lots of training and certification programmes for the sport.

Ayuk said that unlike traditional sports, training and certification for different eSports could be achieved from the comfort of a persons home.

He said that one can also play with or against anyone in different parts of the world. (NAN)