As the Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) came to a close last week, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) announced a new agency-backed competition which will boost the creative enterprise in the animation sector. The initiative aligns with the federal government’s policy to nationalise cartoon content and harness animation as a vehicle for cultural expression and value reorientation.
Director General of the Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu who graced the closing ceremony of the 3-day festival held at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos said LIFANIMA will, from the tenth edition in 2026, take entries in a category called “Real Nigerian Animation Challenge” which focuses on government effort to promote National Identity through the National Values Charter.
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The competition will draw generous rewards for winners including a 10 million naira cash prize for the first position, 7.5 million naira for the second position and 5 million naira for the third position.
The real Nigerian Animation challenge will be in 2D, 3D and Stop Motion picture styles and will be open to only Nigerian animators. Each short film will not exceed three minutes in length and must embody one positive Nigerian character such as resilience, optimism or unity.
In addition to the cash prices, all entries will have three months free airing on national television channels. The NOA is driving a cartoon nationalisation policy to reduce the impact of the overwhelming foreign animation exposure on our young people, many of which do not share local cultural values and orientation, the Director General said. He added that the award adds to other measures put in place by the government to encourage local creativity and promote indigenous Nigerian culture and values around the world.
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Festival director of LIFANIMA, Muyiwa Kayode, who was excited about the new interest shown by government in animation development said the need for authentic stories to be told through animation is long overdue given the rich cultural heritage of the country.
The participants at the festival included representatives of the Lagos State Government, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, the Director General of the Centre for Black Arts and Civilisation, Aisha Adamu Augie, and representatives of private sector organisations and the French Embassy in Nigeria.
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