For eight years, the Akada Children’s Book Festival has brought children, parents, teachers, exhibitors and book lovers together in a celebration of African creativity expressed through children’s picture books. The eighth edition, held on 23 May 2026 in Lagos, was themed “Big Dreams, Bold Stories”. Esther Oluku reports that the event is crystallising into a movement aimed at reviving reading among children in a fast moving digital age
On Saturday, 23 May 2026, 19 tents stood inside the courtyard of Rugby School, Lagos, as hundreds of participants gathered to celebrate one cause — books. Not just books, but Nigerian authored children’s storybooks.
To the left of the entrance stood a tent tagged International Council for Young Authors, displaying books written by children aged five to 17. On the right, five tents housed books and games. There was a tent where people could sip and paint, another where two students were bent over a game of Scrabble, and yet another where science themed games were being played.
On the far right of the entrance, under the bright sun, stood a tent with food: popcorn, ice cream, fresh juice and the signature Nigerian party menu — jollof rice. Although the event would continue into the evening, each tent presented an opportunity to discover exciting books, play educational games, learn a Nigerian language and enrich the learning experience of children.
