Nigeria's Play Network Africa has made history by launching the first-ever Nollywood-themed mobile game app, named "Aki & Pawpaw Epic Run". The app is modeled after the popular 2002 comedy film "Aki Na Ukwa," which featured veteran actors Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme as the mischievous brothers. The CEO of Play Network Africa, Charles Okpaleke, announced the launch of the game app on Twitter, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria's entertainment industry.
Before releasing the game app, Play Network Studios obtained the rights to "Aki and Pawpaw" and produced a remake of the 2002 movie, which Netflix licensed in 2021. The "Aki & Pawpaw Epic Run" game app is now available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
This move by Play Network Africa is a significant boost to the Nigerian film industry, commonly referred to as Nollywood, which is the world's second-largest film industry after India's Bollywood. Nollywood produces over 2,000 movies annually and is an essential part of Nigeria's cultural heritage. The introduction of the first-ever Nollywood-themed game app highlights the growing opportunities and potential for technological innovation in the country's entertainment industry.
With the rise of mobile gaming, the introduction of the "Aki & Pawpaw Epic Run" game app is expected to attract a wider audience to Nollywood. It also provides an avenue for game developers to explore other opportunities to showcase Nigeria's rich cultural heritage through mobile gaming.
