…Honours Ogbu Eme, Tayo Oyetayo for outstanding children’s books
By Chioma Obinna

Over 1,500 children, parents, and educators gathered last week at the UPBEAT Recreation Centre, Lekki, for the seventh edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF) Nigeria’s first and largest book festival dedicated exclusively to children.
This year’s edition, themed “Book an Adventure,” celebrated the power of storytelling to open new worlds of imagination, culture, and self-discovery.
The festival featured an extensive lineup of activities, including 34 authors and speakers, 27 featured books, 14 workshops, 11 storytime sessions, eight book readings, and five book chats, alongside animation and illustration workshops designed to immerse children in the art of visual storytelling.
Speaking at the event, the festival convener and renowned author, Mrs. Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi, said the growing enthusiasm around the festival reflected a rising hunger among young Nigerians for creative expression through reading.
“We are delighted by the incredible energy and enthusiasm that filled this seventh edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival,” she said. “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, 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.”
Highlighting its commitment to nurturing homegrown talent, the festival also celebrated excellence in children’s literature with three major awards presented during the event. Komtu, the Grumpy Chameleon by Tayo Oyetayo won Picture Book of the Year, while The Water School by Ogbu Eme clinched Early Reader Book of the Year.
Expressing delight at the recognition, Oyetayo said, “My goal is to create worlds in my children’s books where every child sees themselves reflected in the pages. The Akada Children’s Book Festival provides a vital platform that recognizes and elevates these stories.”
Since its inception in 2019, the Akada Children’s Book Festival has drawn more than 10,000 participants and donated over 5,000 books, creating wider access to quality reading materials for Nigerian children.
Beyond celebrating African stories and authors, the festival continues to empower parents and educators to nurture a love for books, encourage shared reading practices, and inspire the next generation of African storytellers.