Joyce Onwuka
Over 1,500 people attended the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF)
at the UPBEAT Recreation Centre in Lekki, Lagos. The festival, the first and largest Nigerian book festival curated specifically for children, marked its biggest edition yet, with a multitude of schools in attendance, 34 authors and
speakers, and 27 featured books; 14 workshops; 11 storytime sessions; 8 book readings; 5 book chats; and an array of engaging activities, all designed to inspire curiosity and creativity in young readers.
This year’s festival, themed “Book an Adventure,” showcased and celebrated the idea that every book is a journey into imagination, history, culture, and self-discovery. The theme underscored the role of storytelling in helping
children explore new worlds, ask bold questions, and see themselves as active participants in shaping the future.
Across the day, the festival featured a diverse programme of activities for children and for the parents and teachers who accompany them. The programme also included special animation and illustration workshops, which introduced children to the exciting world of visual storytelling.
“We are delighted by the incredible energy and enthusiasm that filled this year, the seventh edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival,” said Mrs. Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi, renowned author and convener of the ACBF. “The
theme ‘Book an Adventure’ reminds us that every story opens a new door of discovery. Books give children the courage to imagine, to dream, and to explore worlds beyond their own.
At Akada Children’s Book Festival, we want every child to experience that sense of wonder and possibility—to see reading not as a task, but as an adventure
waiting to unfold. Our goal is to keep building a generation that reads, creates, and tells the African story with pride.”
The festival also recognized excellence in children’s literature with three major awards presented during the event.
Komtu, the Grumpy Chameleon won Picture Book of the Year and The Water School by Ogbu Eme was named Early Reader Book of the Year.
Commenting on the recognition, award winner Tayo Oyetayo said, “My goal is to carefully craft a world in my children’s books where every child sees themselves reflected in the pages, the Akada Children’s Books Festival creates
a platform that recognizes and elevates these stories.”
The Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF) is an annual event that provides a visible platform for the work of indigenous authors and encourages broad public engagement with children’s literature from Nigeria and around the
world. Since its launch in 2019, the festival has drawn over 10,160 attendees and donated more than 5,118 books, creating greater access to quality reading materials for children. Beyond celebrating African stories and authors, the
festival empowers parents and educators to nurture a love for reading, embrace shared reading practices, and inspire the next generation of African storytellers.