Lagos to host Africa’s premier Children’s Book Festival in October
Nigeria’s largest children’s literary event, the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF), is set to return for its seventh edition on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The festival will take place at the UPBEAT Recreation Center in Lekki, Lagos, under the theme “Book An Adventure.”
This year’s theme encourages children to explore reading as a gateway to imagination, knowledge, and culture. According to the organisers, the event aims to promote literacy, celebrate diverse voices, and help children 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 become a major platform for authors, illustrators, and publishers focused on children’s literature. It is regarded as the first and biggest children’s book festival in Nigeria.
Festival convener and author Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi said the event is designed to ignite curiosity in young minds. “Every great story begins with adventure. This festival invites children to discover reading as a doorway to endless possibilities,” she said.
The 2025 edition will feature over 20 original children’s book 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. “It’s like a well-tended nursery where every child can bloom,” said Ogbu Eme. Solape Azazi added, “It reminds us that every child deserves to see themselves in a story.”
The festival’s programme includes author-led readings, book exhibitions, a young authors’ spotlight, workshops for creatives, a children’s chess tournament, and sessions for parents and educators. Participation is free and open to the public.
Registration is now open, and families are encouraged to follow @akadafestival on social media for updates. The word “Akada,” derived from Yoruba, means “lover of literacy and books”—a name that reflects the festival’s mission to inspire a new generation of readers.
