Nigeria-based game studio Maliyo Games has partnered with Arizona State University to train and certify up to 10,000 developers across Africa in artificial intelligence and game development.
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The collaboration, announced in a statement on Friday, follows a visit by representatives of the US university to Lagos and signals a growing alignment between global academic institutions and African tech firms seeking to scale industry-ready skills.
The collaboration, announced in a statement on Friday, follows a visit by representatives of the US university to Lagos and signals a growing alignment between global academic institutions and African tech firms seeking to scale industry-ready skills.
The partners said the initiative is already gaining traction, with more than 150 micro-credentials issued to the first cohort of GameUp Africa graduates since its rollout in early 2026. Each participant received a certificate and digital badge issued directly by Arizona State University.
During the Lagos visit, Arizona State University officials met with trainers and participants, toured Maliyo’s facilities, and explored opportunities to expand the programme, as both sides seek to build a pipeline of globally competitive talent rooted in local ecosystems.
Founding Director of the Endless Games and Learning Lab at Arizona State University, Mark Ollila, said the partnership reflects a new phase in game development education.
“This marks a new phase in game development, and we are genuinely excited to be building it with Maliyo Games and the GameUp Africa community,” he said, citing the quality and creativity of local developers as a key driver of the collaboration.
The programme will be delivered through Maliyo’s GameUp Africa initiative and Arizona State University’s Endless Games and Learning Lab, combining practical training with a micro-credential system that allows participants to earn internationally recognised certifications.
At the centre of the initiative is a flexible, stackable credential framework designed to equip participants with market-ready skills in AI and game development while enabling them to progress at their own pace in line with global workforce demands.
Maliyo Games’ Chief Executive Officer, Hugo Obi, said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s position in the global digital economy through talent development and ecosystem building.
“By combining structured learning, community, and access to tools, we are creating opportunities for young people to thrive in game development and beyond,” he said.
Participants say the programme offers exposure to real-world production environments and cross-border collaboration. Ibrahim Karl, a 2025 participant, said working with teams of developers, artists, and audio engineers across Africa was central to the experience.
The teams worked on live service features and published games, with participants earning certifications from Arizona State University upon completion.
The partners said the programme will be scaled over the coming years to meet its 10,000-developer target, with Maliyo providing curriculum, infrastructure, and community support to sustain learning and innovation.
The collaboration underscores a broader shift among African tech players toward building local capacity in emerging technologies such as AI while reducing reliance on imported digital expertise and retaining more value within the continent.
