The maiden edition of the Africa Digital Sports Conference (ADSCon2019) which brought together the best brains and experts in the digital sports media space came to an end in Lagos on Saturday after two days of exceptional insights on how to develop and enhance the fortunes of African
The programme, an initiative of CampsBay Media, attracted over 300 African sports, technology and media leaders who converged on the Four Seasons hotel to network and discover new opportunities in the changing digital technology space and its benefits for the evolving sports industry.
Speakers at the 2019 Africa Digital Sports Conference included Paul Rogers, Head of Strategy at AS Roma Football Club, Seun Methowe, DAZN’s Head of Partnerships for Africa, Mario Leo, CEO/Founder RESULT Sports, Germany, Emeka Enyadike, Director of Digital Sports Africa, Taye Ige, President of Hot Sports Media Group, Bola Afuye, Head of Digital, 9Mobile, Banky Alao, GM Digital, Airtel, Anthony Okeleke and Chidi Anyina of Dambe Warriors, among many others.
Paul Rogers is Head of Strategy at AS Roma Football Club and was the architect behind the club becoming one of the best engaged football clubs on social media.
“I think it’s fantastic that in Nigeria there is an event like this, where great people, great minds all got the same kind of challenges in their industry whether they work in badminton, whether they work in basketball or they work in football grassroots or professional,” he told busybuddiesng.com.
“I think it’s great to have events like this because then we can meet different people, we can learn from different people and exchange ideas.”
Former chairman and current director of the League Management Company (LMC) Nduka Irabo believes the premise of the event is timely and that the strategies and opportunities unearthed at the conference will come in handy in the LMC’s drive to re-engage fans through digital means.
“We are embracing something that has proven to be a success in other climes, moving ahead with the game and from the traditional way of projecting sports,” he said.
“First of all, it’s helping to re-engage the fans, I think this is coming very timely because that’s where it looks like we are losing the fans. With more digital and robust engagements, the fans should come in. This is very timely, how to exploit and maximise the opportunity it presents to us.”
It wasn’t all football though, with the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih full of praise for the organisers of the event which he says has left him better equipped to take advantage of the digital space to transform the federation he leads.
“What has been shared here applies to all sports, it is not only about football alone but sports generally and the digital world is the direction the world is going, so anything to further equip you and give you things to get you more prepared to take advantage of the digital space for me is very commendable.
“For me, it’s a very good development that the organisers were able to put this together and I have picked up quite a few things and I’m sure that there’s going to be a lot more,” Orbih said.
And after putting together a successful maiden edition of what is shaping to be Africa’s premier conference on digital sports, Lolade Adewuyi, Chief Strategist at CampsBay Media and convener of the Africa Digital Sports Conference envisions an even bigger and better event in the next edition.
“ADSCon is shaping up to become West Africa’s biggest sports business conference. We have shown that there is no better place for anyone involved in sports business to be and hopefully, next year will be bigger, better and much more impactful.
The Africa Digital Sports Conference (ADSCon) is an initiative of CampsBay Media created uniquely to help develop and enhance the fortunes of African sport businesses through digital media technology.
