Kenyan Esports Giant CEO Advocates for Inclusion of Esports in School Games
Ronny Lusigi, the CEO of IndexG Esports, has made an appeal for esports to be included in the school games of the East African nation. Lusigi, in his Nation.Africa column, highlighted the fact that not all children possess natural athletic abilities and that school games should broaden their offerings to incorporate esports.
As the CEO of one of the leading esports organisations in Kenya, Lusigi believes that esports can be a viable alternative for children who may not excel in traditional sports. By introducing esports as part of the school games, it can create more opportunities for students to showcase their talents and compete in a field that is rapidly gaining popularity.
“Not every student can produce the athleticism for sports, the agility of dancers, or the charisma of actors. Such students should not be ignored; rather, they should be accommodated in other programmes. Which is why I believe the school games should expand the programmes on offer to include esports.” Lusigi stated.
The African continent is witnessing rapid growth in esports, bringing forth a multitude of opportunities for gamers. Leading organisations, such as the Global Esports Federation (GEF), are collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to establish the first global esports tournament, the Olympic Esports Series. Additionally, the International Esports Federation (IESF) is gearing up to organise the 15th edition of its World Esports Championship in Iași, Romania. All of these events will feature African representation, indicating a promising future for the esports industry on the continent.
The esports industry is becoming a viable career option for individuals worldwide, with scholarships and programmes being offered to promote the growth of this emerging field. In Africa, the Africa Electronic Sports Association (AESA) partnered with the Barça Innovation Hub and the ITTI High Tech Institute to provide an Executive Programme in Esports Management in 2022. This programme will give individuals interested in pursuing a career in esports the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the industry.
Moreover, the South African private school Centennial Schools is supporting young gamers by offering scholarships specifically for esports. In a tournament held by the school, three gamers aged 12–15 were awarded scholarships to further their skills and education in esports. This initiative marks the country’s first-ever esports scholarships and highlights the growing importance of esports as a career option for young people.
Ronny Lusigi, the CEO of IndexG Esports, is optimistic about Kenya’s potential to become a significant player in the growing esports industry. However, he believes that the key to achieving this is by developing a reliable talent conveyor belt within the country’s schools.
Lusigi emphasises the importance of creating opportunities for young people to learn about esports and hone their skills from a young age. With the right resources and education, he believes that Kenyan students can become talented esports athletes and secure a future in the industry.
“There is a need for a reliable talent conveyor belt to be developed, and where better than our schools?” Lusigi stated. “Esports also teaches valuable skills like teamwork, communication, collaboration, and strategy while offering brain exercise that improves spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, strategic analysis, concentration, and time management.”
