The Imo State Commissioner for Youth Development and Talent Hunt, Dr. Emeka Mandela Ukaegbu, in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring, led by Chief Ezechukwu Nnamdi Obonna, on Monday, June 29, 2026, officially unveiled the Nigeria/Japan Youth Game Creator Contest 2026 during a world press conference held at the ICT Hub, Imo State Secretariat, along Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, Owerri.
The initiative is designed to discover, nurture, and empower talented youths across Imo State and Nigeria in the fields of game development, digital innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, while promoting a drug-free lifestyle among young people.
The event attracted government officials, development partners, youth stakeholders, technology enthusiasts, media practitioners, and other critical stakeholders committed to advancing youth empowerment and technological innovation.
The competition is jointly organised by the Imo State Ministry of Youth Development and Talent Hunt, the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring, GigBeing Inc., Tokyo, Japan, and Ebelebe Trading and Investment.
Addressing journalists, Dr. Emeka Mandela Ukaegbu stated that the programme aligns with the Shared Prosperity Administration of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Executive Governor of Imo State.
He explained that the initiative is aimed at equipping young people with relevant digital skills, encouraging innovation, creating employment opportunities, and positioning Imo youths for global competitiveness.
He further disclosed that outstanding participants would have the rare opportunity to showcase their talents internationally, with members of the winning team earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan for mentorship and collaboration with renowned Japanese game creators.
The organisers also announced an attractive prize package. The competition features a total prize pool of JPY 1,000,000.
The overall winner will receive JPY 500,000, while the first and second runners-up will receive JPY 300,000 and JPY 200,000, respectively.
Speaking further, Dr. Mandela encouraged Nigerian youths, particularly those from Imo State with creative ideas for fictional characters and innovative games, to seize the opportunity.
According to him, “If you are a Nigerian youth with creative ideas for fictional characters, especially from Imo State, this opportunity is for you.
Visit https://jnaija.com/contest to register and stand a chance of winning substantial cash prizes and an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan.”
He also encouraged interested participants to visit http://janina.com and https://jnaija.com/supporters for additional information about the programme and its partners.
According to the organisers, the competition is open to developers creating original mobile games, PC games, and browser-based games.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and all submitted projects must be original, unpublished, and must not have won any previous competition.
Registration and submission of entries will remain open until August 31, 2026. Public voting and the judging process will commence on September 1, 2026. Voting will close on September 10, 2026, while the winners will be officially announced on September 30, 2026.
The organisers expressed confidence that the Imo State/Japan Game Creator Development Programme 2026 will strengthen technological innovation, promote entrepreneurship, encourage cultural exchange between Nigeria and Japan, and create life-changing opportunities for young Nigerian developers to compete on the global stage.
The world press conference received extensive media coverage, with several notable print, broadcast, and online media organisations reporting the event, highlighting the growing importance of the initiative in promoting youth empowerment, digital technology, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Imo State.
