The Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (IbaFest) is set to hold its inaugural edition on Friday and Saturday, October 24–25, 2025.
Rooted in the city long regarded as Nigeria’s literary capital, IbaFest 2025 aims to be a major celebration of storytelling, creativity, and cultural dialogue.
The festival will kick off with virtual sessions on Friday, October 24, followed by a main physical gathering on Saturday, October 25, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Admission is free and open to the public, though registration is encouraged.
Anchored on the theme “The Past as Prologue to the Future,” the event will feature a dynamic program, including literary readings, artistic performances, exhibitions, and panel discussions. The core focus is to explore the enduring power of ideas and highlight the vital role of the Creative and Cultural Industries in shaping education, community, and national development.
The festival builds on the success of prelude events held earlier in 2025, including a notable tribute to internationally acclaimed poet, Professor Niyi Osundare, which drew nearly 1,000 participants both online and onsite.
Distinguished Speakers and Program Highlights
IbaFest 2025 is honored to host Emeritus Professor Dan Izevbaye as the Keynote Speaker. He will be joined by numerous distinguished figures who will lead conversations reflecting on Ibadan’s rich literary heritage and its relevance to Nigeria’s evolving cultural landscape.
The roster of confirmed guests includes Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi, Professor Doyin Aguoru, Professor Akin Adesokan, Jahman Anikulapo, Obinna Udenwe, Ayesha Haruna Attah, Victoria Princewill, Nze Sylva Ifedigbo, and Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor, among many other notable personalities and cultural leaders.
A key focus of the festival will be an interactive student-author session bringing together secondary school students from public and private schools in Ibadan. This session is designed to enable students to learn the craft of storytelling directly from renowned and award-winning authors, contributing to national development through engagement with the Creative and Cultural Industries.
IbaFest positions itself as a call to remember, reflect, and reimagine, serving as a vital space for intergenerational dialogue, bold expression, and creative innovation for students, scholars, artists, and cultural leaders across the country.