Lagos-based Maliyo Games has announced a landmark partnership between the Endless Games and Learning Lab at Arizona State University (ASU) and GameUp Africa, its flagship talent acceleration programme. The deal, confirmed during a studio visit to Lagos by Endless Games and Learning Lab representatives Mark Ollila and Bola Akinrolabu, marks one of the most significant transatlantic commitments to African games talent development seen to date.

Hugo Obi, CEO of Maliyo Games, described the visit as “inspiring and energising,” noting the depth of shared vision between both organisations around game-based learning and talent development. The in-person gathering served as the occasion for the formal announcement, underlining the collaborative spirit that underpins the agreement.

At its core, the partnership grants learners who successfully complete the GameUp Africa programme the opportunity to earn micro-credentials from Arizona State University, which is regarded as one of the largest and most innovation-forward universities in the United States. For African creators who have historically faced structural barriers to internationally recognised certification, this represents a meaningful shift in access.

The ambition behind the partnership stretches well beyond credentials on paper. Over the next three years, Maliyo Games and the Endless Games and Learning Lab aim to train and certify more than 10,000 learners across the African continent equipping them with the practical skills, industry exposure, and globally recognised qualifications needed to compete and thrive in the worldwide gaming industry.

GameUp Africa, which sits at the centre of this collaboration, has been positioned by Maliyo Games as a vehicle for scaling opportunity across the continent. The programme reflects a broader strategic bet on homegrown talent as the foundation for a sustainable and competitive African games sector, rather than relying on imported expertise or external infrastructure.