Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, have led other top government officials in the country, to launch the Nigerian National Game (NNG).
A statement by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), said nthe event which took place at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, in Abuja had in attendance, its Director General, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, officials of the lottery commissions of some African countries, such as Ghana, Cote d’ivoire and Niger Republic, as well as other dignitaries.
The launch was put togerher by the NLRC in partnership with Elrae Technologies, to boost jobs and wealth creation in the country.
Hon. Gbajabiamila, in his remarks, urged NLRC to ensure the integrity of the game while also warning against irresponsible gaming and addiction.
Akume, while speaking at the launch and unveiling of logo, said all over the world, devices like the NNG have been deployed and optimally harnessed to generate much-needed revenue for the sustenance of economic growth and development, stating that Nigeria must not be an exception.
The Minister who noted that the idea of a National Game had been an evasive aspiration since the enactment of the National Lottery Act in 2005 and the establishment of the NLRC, disclosed that with the re-establishment in 2019 of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and his appointment to lead the Ministry by President Muhammadu Buhari, the ministry recognized the urgent need to quickly implement the NNG and harness the potential benefits.
He added that the NNG would help tackle the proliferation of foreign games and repatriation of revenues while repositioning the domestic lottery industry, better secure Nigerian players, enhance operational performance and deliver greater revenue to the government.
According to him, “The most important benefit of the National Game is that it translates to significant employment opportunities in line with Mr President’s directives to all MDAs to initiate programmes that generate employment for our teeming youths.
“For example, we learnt that the Chinese used proceeds from gaming to building the Great Wall of China to deter foreign invaders. Today, the Great Wall of China is a tourist attraction and a national asset.
“As we all are aware, Nigeria is currently exploring other means to widen and strengthen its revenue streams in order to fund its annual budgets rather than resort to borrowing. Hence the compelling need for the Federal Government to look beyond Oil and Gas, taxation etc. to sustain the Nigerian economy”.
The DG, NLRC, Mr. Gbajabiamla, on his part, reiterated that the launch of NNG was to establish the commission’s commitment to drive the expansion of the sector and give more Nigerians access to an indigenous platform that can change their life’s story.
He said, “The National Game Nigeria is peculiar and different from existing games Nigerians and some african countries are accustomed to, the National Lottery Nigeria will be essentially the 6/49 and Jackpot Games. The Game will be driven by technology through USSD and other digital platforms”.
