Gen Z: Navigating the Digital Deluge and Embracing Esports
Gen Z has grown up immersed in a constant stream of digital content – games, social media, videos, and endless apps. This hyper-connected world presents a challenge: how do young people sort through the noise and determine what’s important, useful, or even true?
Understanding this digital fluency is crucial for anyone aiming to reach this generation. Social media platforms, media outlets, and even educators grapple with capturing Gen Z’s attention.
Shifting Sands: From Social to Gaming
A recent study by WARC highlights a key trend: younger generations are migrating away from traditional social media. Gen Z (48%) and Gen Alpha (52%) increasingly cite gaming as a preferred way to connect with friends and family. This trend is particularly strong in China and Hong Kong.
Academic Boost: The Unexpected Benefits of Gaming
Interestingly, research suggests that gaming may not be the intellectual wasteland some parents fear. A study analyzing Australian high school students found a positive correlation between daily gaming and academic performance. Over 12,000 high school students in Australia showed that students who played online video games almost every day performed above average in academic testing. Gamers scored 15 points higher than average in math and reading tests, and 17 points higher than average in science.
Esports: A Booming Industry Takes Root
This shift towards gaming has implications beyond leisure. Esports, competitive video gaming and earnin, career in esports and gaming, gaming education in secondary and teritary schools is rapidly growing globally, and Africa is no exception.
Gamr, partnered with the National University Games Association (NUGA) to launch the Varsity Games in 2023. This initiative, the first of its kind, allows university students to compete in popular titles like Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG, EAFC24, MK1, Candycrush and Just Dance.
“Within a week of announcement, engagement was high because it resonated with students from different schools and showed that the government finally cares about esports.” The locations were divided into three regions in Nigeria: North, East, and West Universities. It was a call to all at one location. The first location was Abuja for the Northern Universities. Students registered through their school sports directors and applied for the tournament on the Gamr app and Bracket by Gamr, which was used to group and eliminate players, eradicating paperwork for grouping and elimination.
The inaugural event proved a success, attracting over 100 represented various prestigious institutions, including Nile University, Al Hamir University, Baze University, University of Abuja and more. The University of Abuja sports director, Prof. Peter Ajagbonna, and the school exco warmly welcomed the Gamr team and other University players. The tournament took place at the Outdoor Sports Center, University of Abuja on Saturday, 22nd of June, registration started at 10:00 am, and the hall was filled with students from different regions and tribes. The diversity in gaming was significant as it brought together individuals from various ethnicities, languages, and genders, fostering inclusion and support for each other until a winner emerged.
The Economic Powerhouse of Esports
The potential of esports extends beyond entertainment. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for the Nigerian government to leverage the booming esports industry and empower a generation of young Nigerians. According to research, the Nigerian video game market is projected to reach $513.7 million in 2024, with a projected annual growth rate of 8.36% by 2027. Gamr itself has paid out over $250,000 in sponsorships and events over the past three years.
Beyond Fun: Opportunities Await
For parents, checking what other people are saying about gaming in other countries isn’t shallow; it’s a matter of social life or death. Gaming is the next big thing because many of you played traditional games or phone games before life got too busy. Balancing gaming and education is the challenge – that’s a story for another day. Let us help our children stop hiding what they are most excited about, and encourage them to go for competitions. Research shows students in the USA use the money they make from gaming tournaments, streaming on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, etc., to pay their student loans. So why not allow them to take responsibility for their expenses?
The industry needs skilled professionals beyond just gamers. Positions like game developers, event managers, broadcasters, content creators, and journalists are all crucial to the esports ecosystem.
A New Generation of Stars
David Rothschild, an economist at Microsoft Research who studies online behavior, says, “It is highly likely that if they allow them, they will make their first million in a few days.” On a final note, a big thank you to our sponsors, Infinix, NUGA, and Nivea, as the Varsity Games crowned its first regional champions, with
Ebubechukwu Michael (Mortal Kombat, Baze University)
Faruk Manzo (EAFC24, Nile University)
Princess Michael (CandyCrush, University of Abuja)
Mahdi Chimdi Abbas (COD Mobile, University of Abuja), taking home the top honors.
The future of Nigerian esports is bright. The competition continues on July 13th, heading to the University of Benin and the University of Lagos on August 17th. With prizes totaling 5,000,000 Naira and the chance to become an esports star across all Nigerian Universities by September, the next generation of Nigerian gaming talent is poised to take center stage.
