Lagos to host Africa’s Premier Children’s Book festival Oct 25

Nigeria’s largest children’s literary event, the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF), will return for its seventh edition on Saturday, October 25, 2025. 

The festival will hold at the UPBEAT Recreation Centre in Lekki, Lagos, under the theme “Book An Adventure.”

According to the organisers, this year’s theme is designed to encourage children to explore reading as a gateway to imagination, knowledge, and culture. 

The event aims to promote literacy, celebrate diverse voices, and inspire children to see themselves as storytellers and future changemakers.

Since its launch in 2019, ACBF has attracted over 10,000 attendees, donated more than 5,000 books, and established itself as the first and biggest children’s book festival in Nigeria.

Festival convener and author, Mrs Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, said the initiative is meant to ignite curiosity in young minds. 

She stated, “Every great story begins with adventure. This festival invites children to discover reading as a doorway to endless possibilities.”

The 2025 edition will feature over 20 original children’s titles, including The Invincible Will by Amadi Njoku, The Magical Market of Maraba by Solape Azazi, The Water School by Ogbu Eme, and Tommy Can Win Too by Ayodeji Anifowose.

Authors have praised ACBF’s impact on early childhood development and representation in literature. Ogbu Eme said, “It’s like a well-tended nursery where every child can bloom.” Solape Azazi added, “It reminds us that every child deserves to see themselves in a story.”

The festival’s programme will include author-led readings, book exhibitions, a young authors’ spotlight, creative workshops, a children’s chess tournament, and sessions for parents and educators.

Participation is free and open to the public, while registration is ongoing. Families are encouraged to follow @akadafestival on social media for updates.

Organisers noted that the word “Akada”—derived from Yoruba—means “lover of literacy and books,” reflecting the festival’s mission to inspire a new generation of readers.