Abiola Olaniran, a trailblazer in Africa’s mobile gaming and tech startup scene, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the age of 36. The news of his sudden passing has sent ripples through the African tech community. He was laid to rest the same day in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends.
Olaniran was best known as the founder and CEO of Gamsole, a Lagos-based mobile game development studio he launched in 2012. A visionary software engineer, he helped shape the early landscape of mobile gaming in Africa. His studio’s games quickly gained traction, amassing over 10 million downloads across platforms such as Windows Phone, Android, and feature phones by early 2015.
His breakthrough came after winning the Microsoft Imagine Cup in 2010, a global student technology competition that spotlighted his talent and ambition. Just a few years later, in 2016, Gamsole partnered with telecom giant MTN to release Gidi Run, a flagship title that not only captivated players but also introduced innovative monetization strategies tailored to the African market.
Olaniran’s impact extended far beyond game development. In 2015, he became one of the first investors in Techpoint Africa, providing crucial early-stage funding to what would become one of the continent’s leading tech media platforms. He also served as Chief Technology Officer at eLimu, an ed-tech company, where he led a major overhaul of its mobile applications to improve accessibility and performance.
His contributions earned him widespread recognition. In 2015, Forbes Africa named him to its prestigious “30 Under 30” list, and in 2016, he was featured among the “30 Most Promising Young African Entrepreneurs.”
In recent years, Olaniran stepped back from day-to-day operations at Gamsole to focus on mentoring emerging developers and angel investing in Africa’s growing tech ecosystem. His guidance and support helped nurture a new generation of African tech talent.
Abiola Olaniran leaves behind a legacy of innovation, mentorship, and a deep belief in the potential of African technology. His work not only broke new ground in gaming but also helped lay the foundation for a more vibrant and self-sustaining tech industry across the continent.
