“We want children to see reading not as a task, but as an adventure.”

Record Attendance Marks Seventh Edition

The 2025 Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF) attracted over 1,500 attendees to Lagos’s UPBEAT Recreation Centre, cementing its status as Nigeria’s premier platform for indigenous children’s literature.

With 34 authors, 27 curated titles, and 38 programmed sessions – including 14 workshops, 11 storytimes, and five book chats – the festival demonstrates the sector’s growing commercial viability. The theme “Book an Adventure” underlined storytelling’s role in nurturing curious, confident young readers.

Championing Homegrown Narratives

Founded in 2019 by Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi (chair of the Association of Children’s Authors and Illustrators of Nigeria), ACBF emerged to address a critical market gap: imported titles dominating shelves while lacking cultural resonance.

The inaugural event expected 300 attendees but drew 1,400–2,000, revealing pent-up demand. This year’s programme featured 32 original Nigerian titles, including works in indigenous languages, directly challenging the historical imbalance.

Industry Infrastructure and Curation

For publishing professionals, ACBF’s significance extends beyond literacy advocacy. In a fragmented market where high illustration costs force 90% of creators into self-publishing, the festival provides rare distribution access to schools, libraries, and urban buyers.

An eight-person editorial board rigorously evaluates submissions for storyline, production quality, and thematic fit, offering professional vetting that strengthens market credibility. Winners included Komtu, the Grumpy Chameleon (Picture Book of the Year) and Ogbu Eme’s The Water School (Early Reader Book of the Year).

Growth and Recognition

Since 2019, total attendance has surpassed 10,160, with over 5,118 books donated to expand access. Brittle Paper named ACBF its 2023 Literary Platform of the Year, acknowledging its role in “signaling the possibility of a market and industry around children’s books.”

The festival has become a vital springboard for self-published authors, particularly women, offering visibility otherwise unavailable in Nigeria’s adult-focused publishing landscape.

Sustaining the Ecosystem

Despite success, structural challenges persist. Children’s books remain expensive to produce, and ACBF relies on free venue provision and a 95% volunteer workforce to maintain free entry. Yet rising demand from parents and educators seeking locally-relevant content suggests a sustainable future for practitioners investing in quality indigenous literature.

As Talabi notes, “We want children to see reading not as a task, but as an adventure.”

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.