The Females in Gaming Network (FIGN), a community for women and girls in gaming that started in Port Harcourt, marks its first anniversary today, 14 November 2026, with a hybrid event in the city. It is also launching its first official merchandise.
Key facts
- FIGN was founded in Port Harcourt in 2025. A launch photo on its website is dated 14 November 2025 (FIGN).
- In its first year, FIGN says it drew more than 740 attendees across its events, with 24 partners, and reached seven countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Uganda. These are FIGN’s own figures, from its anniversary partnership proposal; we could not check them independently.
- Today’s programme, according to FIGN: one keynote speaker, two virtual segments, eight breakout tracks and the merchandise launch. It is aiming for more than 400 attendees.
The celebration starts at 9am at Renaissance Innovation Labs on Ada George Road, Port Harcourt, and registered participants get a certificate, FIGN said on Instagram.
Who’s on stage
FIGN’s speaker cards, shared on social media ahead of the event, list:
- Keynote: Sophia Nei, founder of FIGN;
- Host: Josiah Peace, creative designer at Women in Energy Network;
- Speakers: Deborah Nwokocha, product designer and UX strategist at Productsio, and Dorcas Lucky, product designer and programmes manager at Gameverse Africa;
- Panellists: Juliet Jackson, partnership lead at FIGN; Ajie Bliss, chief operating officer of Renaissance Innovation Labs; and Yvonne Ekea, co-founder and COO of Nomomics.
FIGN describes itself as “a pan-African federation and community for women and girls in gaming” (FIGN). Its founder is Sophia Nei, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Why it matters: Port Harcourt is not known for making games. A Leadership report in January found no dedicated game studios in the city, and gaming that was mostly VR demos and casual set-ups at tech events (Leadership via AllAfrica). A year on, a network born here says it is active in seven countries.
What FIGN does
FIGN organises its work into eight “pathways”, each a way into gaming for women who don’t only want to play:
- esports;
- commentary;
- voiceover;
- game development;
- content and creators;
- performance and costume;
- narrative and lore;
- community and operations.
FIGN says its Pathways platform is live, and that today’s eight breakout tracks follow the same eight paths.
In July, it ran a girls-only esports tournament at Renaissance Innovation Labs in Port Harcourt, with Mortal Kombat and EA Sports FC and a ₦200,000 prize pool, Nexal Gaming reported. FIGN names Alliance Française, the French Embassy and Renaissance Innovation Labs among its partners.
Why women in gaming is a gap worth closing
FIGN’s case is that women remain underrepresented across every role in gaming, esports and creative tech: players, builders, casters and leaders. Nigeria’s game scene has grown fast this year, from Danfo Run to Lagos Life and the games that followed. Who gets to build, voice and commentate those games is the next question, and FIGN’s answer is community and training.
What’s next
FIGN’s 2027 plan is a school tour across African schools, monthly hackathons and game jams, national chapters and a FIGN Annual Summit. Want to build your own game in the meantime? Here’s how to build a browser game with AI, step by step.
At the anniversary, or part of FIGN? Send us your photos and your story at [email protected].
