Africa is gearing up for the exhilarating second edition of the largest gaming and esports tournament in West Africa, Gamr X, proudly hosted by Gamr. The theme for this year’s tournament is “Brave,” challenging participants to step up and claim victory for their country. Are you brave enough to claim the X?
Following the groundbreaking success of the inaugural event, which drew thousands of competitors and spectators from across the continent, Gamr X 2023 promises to be even more grandiose. With a staggering prize pool of $15,000 and an estimated attendance of over 5,000, last year’s tournament set an unprecedented record.
This year promises to be even bigger, Gamr X welcomes participation from more than 15 African countries, all set to showcase their exceptional talents in a range of popular gaming titles. From FIFA 23, PUBG, and Mortal Kombat to CODM, FreeFire, Street Fighter 6, and many more, the competition will be fierce and thrilling. But the excitement doesn’t end there; attendees can also indulge in additional fun activities like scavenger hunts, cosplay, arcade games, VR experiences, Just Dance competitions, retro games, and much more.
As the popularity of esports continues to skyrocket in Africa, Gamr is dedicated to providing a platform for skilled players to exhibit their abilities and compete at the highest level. With projections indicating that the global esports industry will surpass a market value of $3 billion by 2025, African gamers have a unique opportunity to leave their mark on the industry and be part of its remarkable growth.
In addition to the Gamr X tournament, this second edition introduces the highly anticipated X Summit and Award ceremony. The X Summit, scheduled for June 16th at the prestigious Alliance Française, aims to bring together industry stakeholders with diverse perspectives to share insights and trends within the ecosystem. This gathering will provide invaluable knowledge to gaming communities and stakeholders across Africa, fostering collaboration and a vibrant esports landscape.
The Gamr X Award ceremony will recognize outstanding contributions to the gaming industry, celebrating achievements and inspiring future generations. By providing mentorship, training programs, and exposure to larger opportunities, Gamr seeks to empower gamers and enhance their employability, ultimately paving the way for a brighter future in the industry.
On Saturday, June 17, skilled players from Cameroon, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Congo, Nigeria, and various other African countries will vie for the coveted title of the best player to represent their nation in the Gamr X tournament. Last year, Uganda triumphantly claimed the trophy; now the stage is set for a thrilling showdown to determine who will seize the X this year.
“Last year’s GamrX was a tremendous success, exceeding our expectations. This year, we are thrilled to announce an even bigger event, bringing together thousands of passionate gamers from across Africa to showcase their skills and celebrate the spirit of gaming. Additionally, we are excited to host key stakeholders in the African gaming ecosystem for insightful discussions on the ‘Trends and Futures of Gaming and Esports.’ We anticipate that this edition will surpass all previous records, and we invite everyone to join us in this remarkable journey.” – Kunmi Adenipebi, Chief Operating Officer, Gamr. – Kunmi Adenipebi (Chief Operating Officer, Gamr).
Commenting on the Bank’s contribution to sports development, entertainment and arts, Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications said, “We are thrilled to be a part of a first of its kind and unarguably the largest gaming and e-sports tournament in the country. Gamr X is an event that encourages and supports talented youngsters in fulfilling their dreams to become internationally recognised e-sport and gaming stars. e-sport is an exciting and rapidly growing industry that offers African youth an opportunity to showcase their skills on a global platform. This tournament aligns with FirstBank’s commitment to youth empowerment and development, and we commend Gamr for giving the gamers the platform to showcase their gaming skills and proficiency to the world”.
Gamr, “Gaming Differently,” is more than simply a collection of ornate words meant to inspire awe; it is a commitment. The assurance that you are guaranteed a novel experience at Brave for X.
This edition of Gamr X is proudly sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria Limited, CXM, Ballantine’s, Garena, French Embassy, Infinix Gaming Master, Carry1st, Tiktok, Kingmakers, LG, Lagos State Government, and Logitech.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading financial inclusion services provider in Nigeria for 129 years.
With over 750 business locations and over 200,000 Banking Agents spread across 99% of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, FirstBank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services to serve its over 36 million customers. The Bank has an international presence with subsidiaries operating in 9 other countries. These subsidiaries are FirstBank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FirstBank in The Gambia, FirstBank Sierra-Leone, FirstBank in the Republic of Congo, FBNBank in Ghana, FBNBank in Guinea, FBNBank in Senegal as well as a Representative Office in Beijing, China. The Bank is at the forefront of promoting digital banking in the country and has issued over 12 million cards, the first bank to achieve such a milestone. FirstBank’s cashless transaction drive extends to having more than 12 million people on its USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code and over 4.5 million people on the FirstMobile platform. It is, by far, the leader in the number of digital transactions per minute across multiple channels.
FirstBank’s commitment to Diversity is shown in its policies, partnerships and initiatives, such as its employees’ ratio of female to male (about 39%:61%; and 32% women in management) as well as the FirstBank Women Network, an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase the participation of women at all levels within the organization. In addition, the Bank’s membership of the UN Women is an affirmation of a deliberate policy that is consistent with UN Women’s Women Empowerment’s Principles – Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Nondiscrimination.
Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities available in Nigeria an internationally competitive world-class brand and a credible financial partner.
For six consecutive years (2011 – 2016), FirstBank was named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” by the globally renowned The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” eight times in a row, 2011 – 2018, by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards.
Notably, in 2022, the Bank took a long stride on its growth trajectory with the Bank’s Viability and Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings upgraded to ‘B’ from ‘B-‘ (with Outlooks Stable) by Fitch, a leading global rating agency. This is an indication of the Bank’s strong internal capital generation and the corresponding recession of its risks to capitalisation. Fitch also upgraded the Bank’s National Long-Term Ratings to ‘A (nga)’ from ‘BBB (nga)’, to reflect its improved creditworthiness relative to that of other issuers in Nigeria. Furthermore, the Top 100 African Bank rankings 2022 released by The Banker Magazine revealed FirstBank’s ranking as number one in Nigeria in terms of Overall Performance, Profitability, Efficiency and Return on Risk.
Other laudable feats in 2022 include FirstBank’s international recognitions on major indices by Euromoney Market Leaders, an independent global assessment of the leading financial service providers where FirstBank was crowned:
- Market Leader: (tier-1 recognition) in Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR),
- Market Leader: (tier -1 recognition) Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),
- Highly Regarded: in Corporate Banking and Digital Solutions,
- Notable: in SME Banking.
Also, in 2022 International Finance Magazine named the Bank “Most Innovative Banking Product in Nigeria” and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria”. FirstBank was also awarded “Best Corporate Banking Western Africa, 2022” and “Best CSR Bank Western Africa, 2022’’ by Global Banking and Finance Magazine. Other notable awards in FirstBank coffers include: “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance magazine – fifteen times in a row; “Best Private Bank in Nigeria-2021” awarded by Global Finance magazine; “Best Internet Banking Nigeria” and ‘’Best CSR Bank Africa’’ by International Business Magazine.
In 2023, FirstBank has received notable awards including “Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa 2023” by Global Finance Awards; “Best Sustainable Bank in Nigeria 2023” by International Investors Awards; “Best Bespoke Banking Services in Nigeria 2023” by International Investors Awards; “Best Financial Inclusion Service Provider in Nigeria 2023” by Digital Banker Africa; and “African Bank of the Year” by African Leadership Magazine.
Our vision is ‘To be Africa’s Bank of first choice’ and our mission is ‘To remain true to our name by providing the best financial services possible. This commitment is anchored on our core values of EPIC – Entrepreneurship, Professionalism, Innovation and Customer-Centricity. Our strategic ambition is ‘To deliver accelerated growth in profitability through customer-led innovation and disciplined execution and our brand promise is always to deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence to position You First in every respect.
Folake Ani-Mumuney
Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications
First Bank of Nigeria Limited
