Africa earns about $12 billion a year from sport, a small share of the estimated $2.3 trillion generated by the global sports industry, Rwanda’s Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire said Wednesday.
Mukazayire said the figures show the continent is yet to make full use of its sporting talent, young population and infrastructure, calling for greater investment to increase the economic contribution of sport.
She was speaking at the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2026, which is taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre from Sept. 9 to 11.
Mukazayire said sport contributes about 0.5% to Africa’s gross domestic product, compared with 2.5% to 3% in some other markets.
She questioned why African countries could not raise the contribution to 2.5% and eventually 5%, given the opportunities available and the continent’s large youth population.
“We have opportunities, but instead of using them at home, we take them elsewhere,” she said. “We have to invest in talent. We should not overlook infrastructure because it is an investment that generates income.”
She also called for greater efforts to increase the value of existing sports facilities and other assets.
Christian Gakwaya, director general of Rwanda Events, which organised the forum, said Africa needed to look beyond sporting results and entertainment if the sector is to generate more jobs and income.
“The time has come for Africa to go beyond playing well, winning trophies and entertaining fans,” Gakwaya said, urging stakeholders to examine who benefits financially from the sports industry.
He said the forum was intended to help stakeholders find answers to those questions and explore how sport can create jobs and improve people’s lives.
Investors were encouraged to consider the sector, with speakers pointing to opportunities that remain largely untapped across African sport.
