Pioneering African mobile gaming founder, Abiola Olaniran, dies at 36
Abiola Olaniran, the pioneering founder of the mobile gaming company Gamsole and a prominent figure in Africa’s technology scene, has passed away at the age of 36.He died on Wednesday, July 16, and was interred that same day in a private service.
Olaniran gained worldwide acclaim after winning the Microsoft Imagine Cup in 2010, subsequently founding Gamsole in Lagos in 2012. His contributions marked a pivotal moment for mobile game development on the continent, with Gamsole's games reaching over 10 million downloads across platforms such as Windows Phone, Android, and feature phones by 2015.
In 2016, he collaborated with telecommunications leader MTN to launch Gidi Run, a key title that introduced innovative monetization strategies to the African gaming industry.
Olaniran's influence went beyond the gaming sector. He was an early supporter of Techpoint Africa, providing the initial funding for the media outlet's launch in 2015. He later took on the role of Chief Technology Officer at eLimu, a Kenyan educational technology firm, where he oversaw the redesign of its mobile learning applications.
Honored by Forbes Africa in its “30 Under 30” list in 2015 and later recognized as one of the “30 Most Promising Young African Entrepreneurs” in 2016, Olaniran was admired not only for his creativity but also for his commitment to fostering the African tech landscape.
In recent years, he had moved away from daily operations at Gamsole to concentrate on mentoring emerging developers and investing in nascent startups throughout the continent.
His passing represents a substantial loss for the African technology and gaming community.
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