Abiola Olaniran, a trailblazer in Africa’s mobile gaming industry and a major supporter of tech innovation on the continent, has died at the age of 36.
His passing occurred on Wednesday, July 16, and he was reportedly laid to rest the same day in a private burial ceremony. The cause of death remains undisclosed at the time of this report.
A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and a skilled Unity3D developer, Olaniran first rose to prominence in 2010 when he represented Nigeria and won the Microsoft Imagine Cup in Poland. That international victory spotlighted him as one of the continent’s brightest emerging tech talents.
In 2012, Olaniran founded Gamsole, a Lagos-based mobile game development company that quickly rose to become one of Africa’s most downloaded gaming studios. By 2015, Gamsole’s titles had achieved over 10 million downloads. Among its most notable titles was Gidi Run, launched in 2016 in partnership with MTN; a game celebrated for its unique blend of monetization and African cultural storytelling.
Olaniran’s impact went beyond game development. He was named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list in 2015 and later recognized as one of the 30 Most Promising Young African Entrepreneurs. His reach extended into tech media when he provided early-stage funding to Techpoint Africa, now one of the continent’s leading tech publications.
From 2020 to 2022, he served as Chief Technology Officer at eLimu, a Kenya-based ed-tech firm, where he led the complete overhaul of its mobile learning platforms, further showcasing his ability to blend engineering with educational impact.
Despite his achievements, Olaniran maintained a low profile and was widely respected for his humility and mentorship. He nurtured a new wave of African tech founders and game developers, offering guidance quietly and generously.
His LinkedIn profile, followed by more than 5,000 people, reflected his simple but powerful self-description: “Experienced Unity3D developer with a track record of creating and publishing games across platforms.”
Abiola Olaniran leaves behind a legacy defined by innovation, generosity, and an unwavering belief that African tech talent can lead on the global stage. He is mourned by his family, friends, colleagues, and a generation of African developers who looked up to him as a pioneer and role model.
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