The Convener of the Akada Children’s Book Festival, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, has said the annual event is a platform for promoting indigenous children’s literature and strengthening the future of African storytelling among young readers.
Aboderin-Talabi spoke on Saturday during the eighth edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival at The Rugged School, Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, where authors, illustrators, educators, parents and children gathered to celebrate books, creativity and literacy.
Founded in 2019, the festival has steadily evolved from a modest literary gathering into one of Nigeria’s most influential platforms promoting locally authored children’s books and encouraging reading culture among children.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s festival, “Big Dreams, Brave Stories,” Aboderin-Talabi said the event was designed to inspire children to pursue their aspirations while developing the courage to confront challenges through storytelling and creative expression.
“By bringing writers, illustrators and young readers into the same space, we are helping children see that books are not distant objects on a shelf, but stories created by people whose experiences they can relate to,” she said.
