From ASU’s perspective, this initiative reflects a broader shift in global education. According to Oliver, ASU is the largest public university in the United States, with approximately 180,000 students, half on campus and half online. The institution’s long-standing vision, driven by its leadership, is centred on accessibility and adaptability.

“Not everyone can learn through traditional methods. We need the flexibility to go to where learning takes place,” Oliver explained.

This philosophy has shaped ASU’s approach to education, focusing on multiple learning pathways that allow students to achieve outcomes tailored to their individual goals.

Understanding the ‘Five Realms’ of Education

“ASU’s evolving education model is structured around five distinct ‘realms’: Traditional classroom learning, online and digital learning environments, immersive exploration through technologies like virtual reality, and finally, infinitely scalable learning systems. The Endless Games and Learning Lab represents ASU’s first “Realm Five” initiative, focused on delivering education at scale,” Oliver emphasised.

Techeconomy’s Oluwatosin Aloba has a chat with Mark and Bola:

Institutional Strategy

Te: What motivated Arizona State University to partner with a Nigerian gaming company like Maliyo Games?

Mark Olilla: We look for partners already creating impact. Maliyo has proven experience in both training and industry delivery, which makes them ideal.

Te: How does this initiative fit into ASU’s global strategy around experiential learning and digital innovation?

Mark: Our focus is on flexible learning pathways. People learn differently depending on their environment. Someone may learn better through games than through textbooks, and we want to support that. Games are one of the most complex forms of creation. When you learn to build games, you’re learning storytelling, programming, design, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that apply to any industry.

The model works as:

• Play to Learn → Recognising skills gained through gaming
• Make to Learn → Building real products (games, tools, experiences)
• Earn to Learn → Turning skills into income and careers

He emphasised that this model is designed to be scalable, accessible, and affordable.

Micro-Credentials: A New Kind of Qualification

Te: Why are microcredentials central to this programme?

Mark: They validate real skills especially when someone has actually built something.

Te: How will these credentials be structured to ensure global relevance and employability?

Bola Akinrolabu: Arizona State University is globally recognised, with over 180,000 students and a presence across multiple regions. A microcredential from Arizona State University provides strong validation that the learner has completed a rigorous, practical programme.

Empowering African Talent

Te: What unique advantages does Nigeria offer in the global gaming and creative economy?

Bola: Nigeria’s massive youth population and creative energy make it a strategic starting point. Also, as someone born and raised in Nigeria, I find this personal. This partnership is about opening alternative pathways to education and empowering young people to become self-reliant. This is about giving young people the ability to build careers, create companies, and shape their future.

Experiential Learning Model

Te: How will this programme deliver real-world learning?

Mark: We focus on collaboration and building. When people work together and create, that’s where real learning happens. Seeing students mentor each other and build projects, that’s exactly the ecosystem we want.

Programme Structure & Intensity

Te: Is five to six months enough for learning?

Bola: Yes. This model is proven. The intensity helps people learn in months what might take years in traditional systems. We’ve seen beginners create playable games in just days; the pressure accelerates learning.

Challenges & Execution

Te: What challenges have you encountered so far?

Bola: We’re still in the planning stage, but infrastructure such as Power supply, Hardware access, and internet connectivity is something we’re mindful of. However, the team is already working on solutions, including: Physical learning hubs with access to tools and equipment. We see it not as a barrier, but a problem we’re already working to solve.

Measuring Success & Mentorship

Te: What metrics will ASU use to measure the success of this programme? Will there be mentorship beyond the programme?

Bola: Participants must create an artefact, a working project. That’s proof of learning. The microcredential validates that they’ve completed the process. Yes, peer-to-peer mentorship is key. People who have gone through the programme come back to guide others.

Scaling & Long-Term Impact

Te: In five years, what impact would you like to see this partnership have on both Nigerian and global talent ecosystems?

Mark: We want to reach hundreds of thousands, even millions, giving people the tools to learn, create, and earn.

Bola: Ultimately, we want to see young people empowered, building careers and contributing to both Nigeria’s and the global digital economy.

This partnership signals a shift in how education, skills, and opportunity are built and validated in Africa’s digital economy. It could redefine Africa’s role in the global gaming and AI ecosystem.

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Maliyo Games’ recently cemented partnership with Arizona State University’s Endless Games and Learning Lab is redefining how young Africans can learn, build skills, and earn in the digital economy.

Endless Games and Learning Lab has existed for 20 months at Arizona University, the largest Public University in the United States. At the heart of this initiative is a bold idea: gaming is not just entertainment, it is a gateway to education, innovation, and economic empowerment.

In this exclusive interview with Techeconomy’s OLUWATOSIN ALOBA at the MADHouse, the incubator centre for creatives, situated at the Lagoon front of the University of Lagos, Hugo Obi, founder of Maliyo Games, speaks on the partnership with Arizona State University, through its Endless Games and Learning Lab, to accelerate workforce development in artificial intelligence (AI) and game development across the continent:

Te: This partnership with Arizona State University marks a significant milestone. How does it align with Maliyo’s long-term vision for Africa’s gaming ecosystem?

Hugo Obi: For me, it’s about accelerating talent development. We’ve already been building talent, but now we can truly scale. What’s also important is the skills mapping we’re introducing; it brings more structure and science into how people develop.

This programme isn’t just for university students. It’s for people already working, entrepreneurs, job seekers, and even those who have never attended university. Because it’s virtual, people can participate from anywhere.

Talent Development & Industry Readiness

Te: Nigeria has a young, digitally savvy population. What specific skills gaps have you identified in the local gaming and interactive media space?

Hugo Obi: People have been playing games for years. The real gap is shifting them from consumers to creators. If we want people to create, we must give them the skills. That’s how we build exports and even soft power.

Te: How will this partnership help transition Nigerian talent from learning to studio-ready production environments? How will this partnership ensure real industry readiness?

Hugo Obi: We’ve been running this system for five years, and it already works. This partnership is about accelerating what is already proven. Some of the people trained through our programme now work with us, and many are thriving elsewhere. That’s how we know the model delivers.

From Learning to Real Impact

Te: Many programmes train people, but do they actually apply the skills?

Hugo Obi: That’s a valid concern. But we’ve already seen the results. We’ve built a system where people go through the process and come out with real, usable skills. The partnership isn’t introducing something new; it’s helping us scale from thousands to potentially tens of thousands.

Economic & Industry Impact

Te: What role does gaming play in Nigeria’s economy?

Hugo Obi: Gaming can drive job creation, digital exports, and youth empowerment. It’s a major opportunity for economic diversification.

Future Outlook

Te: What kind of projects or real-world outputs should participants expect. And should we expect more partnerships?

Today, we all know games like Candy Crush, tomorrow, the world could be playing games built in Africa. And, yes, more partnerships are coming, including with industry and government. This is just the beginning.

The initiative, unveiled following a high-level engagement in Lagos, establishes a structured framework for micro-credentialing, externships, and experiential learning, bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world production in the fast-growing interactive media industry.

Building Africa’s Next Generation of Digital Creators

At the heart of the partnership is a shared ambition to equip African youth with globally competitive, industry-ready skills, leveraging Maliyo Games’ deep understanding of local content ecosystems and Arizona State University’s leadership in digital learning innovation.

“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,” said Mark Olilla, founding director of the Endless Games and Learning Lab at Arizona State University.

“The talent we encountered here, the drive and creativity of these developers, confirmed everything we hoped this partnership could deliver. We are looking forward to what comes next.”

Micro-Credentials Driving Real-World Impact

The programme introduces a flexible, stackable micro-credential system, enabling participants to earn globally recognized certifications from Arizona State University while gaining hands-on experience in game development and AI.

Since its rollout in early 2026, the initiative has already delivered over 150 micro-credentials to the first cohort of graduates under Maliyo’s GameUp Africa programme, signaling early traction and scalability.

For participants, the experience goes beyond certification.

“I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with three different teams made up of talented developers, artists, and audio engineers from across Africa,” said Ibrahim Karl.

“Together, we worked on live service features and published games, which was incredibly rewarding. I’m proud to have earned a micro-credential and certification from Arizona State University.”

Scaling Talent Development Across Africa

With Africa’s gaming industry projected to exceed $5 billion by 2030, the demand for AI-literate, studio-ready talent continues to rise sharply.

Both institutions have set an ambitious target to train and certify 10,000 learners across Africa over the coming years, positioning the continent as a key player in the global gaming and digital content economy.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to building and nurturing talent within Africa’s growing gaming ecosystem,” said Hugo Obi, CEO of Maliyo Games.

“By combining structured learning, community, and access to tools, we are creating opportunities for young people to thrive in game development and beyond.”

Bridging Education, Industry, and Innovation

Beyond skills development, the collaboration represents a broader shift in how education and industry intersect in emerging markets.

By integrating externships, studio-based projects, and global certification frameworks, the initiative ensures that learning outcomes are directly aligned with market needs, closing long-standing gaps between training and employability.

The programme also strengthens U.S.–Nigeria educational exchange, reinforcing cross-border collaboration in high-growth digital sectors while positioning micro-credentials as a scalable alternative to traditional degree pathways.

Driving Economic Growth Through Creative Technology

Stakeholders say the partnership underscores the growing importance of gaming and interactive media as drivers of economic diversification, job creation, and digital exports in Africa.

With Nigeria’s large youth population and expanding digital economy, initiatives like this are expected to build local talent pipelines, enable global workforce participation, foster entrepreneurship and innovation, and strengthen Africa’s position in the global creative economy.

A Strategic Bridge Between Continents

Industry observers describe the Maliyo–ASU collaboration as more than an academic alliance—it is a strategic bridge between continents, industries, and talent ecosystems, with implications for education, technology, and economic diplomacy.

As digital creativity becomes a central pillar of global growth, the partnership positions both Nigeria and the United States at the forefront of future-focused workforce development and innovation.