IGDA Foundation Awards Margaret Gathoni 2025 Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholarship
The IGDA Foundation is honored to recognize Margaret Gathoni as the recipient of the 2025 Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholarship during the final day of Africa Games Week.
As a past grantee of the IGDA Foundation’s Virtual Exchange Program in 2024, Margaret Gathoni builds upon her industry experience to further explore how games and interactive storytelling inspire learning and connection. Her prior work includes mentorship platforms that blend technology, data, and creativity, as well as experimental, narrative-driven projects.
The IGDA Foundation founded the Eric Dybsand AI Scholarship in 2007. Eric Dybsand was a pillar of the game AI development community, known at GDC as one of the “AI guys.” In his honor, the Foundation awards the Scholarship to one student studying AI to aid their education and foster the next generation of AI engineers.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the recipient of the Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholarship,” said Margaret. “I am sincerely grateful to the IGDA Foundation for this opportunity and for enabling me to attend Africa Games Week. Their support allows me to connect with global industry peers and strengthen my mission to showcase how African creativity, culture, and storytelling can shape the future of gaming and technology.”
Africa Games Week spotlights the excellence of Africa’s gaming talent, including studio heads, developers, industry professionals, and newcomers to the gaming industry. The annual 4-day event showcases the brilliance behind Africa’s gaming landscape through leading industry speakers, B2B networking, workshops, and a sprawling games exhibit located in South Africa.
