It was a colourful and exciting Saturday at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, as children gathered for the first edition of the Smids Children’s Animation Festival. The festival, organised by National Theatre, in partnership with Smids Animation Studio, brought together nearly 80 children between the ages of eight and 12 for a day filled with animation, drawing, and creativity .

The General Manager and CEO of the National Theatre, Adetola Akerele, welcomed the children with a heartfelt message. She encouraged them to take the event seriously while having fun. “This is a really exciting opportunity for all of you because you’re learning about animation from a young age,” she said. “Focus, have fun, but be attentive and on your best behaviour. This is the beginning of your animation journey. We want you to open your minds to all the possibilities.”

She also highlighted the importance of animation in the arts and culture space.
“Animation is an exciting and innovative expression of arts and culture. We’re very grateful to the French Embassy, Alliance Française, and Smids for their support. We hope to do more of these activities, including one for teenagers soon.”

In an interview, Ms Akerele explained the reason behind the event. “With Children’s Day coming up, we wanted something meaningful that would really engage the kids,” she said. “Animation is something children love, and it’s a great way to spark their creativity. Watching films, drawing characters, and using computers all in one day, it’s the kind of digital experience they enjoy.”
She also announced plans for a longer summer programme. “It’ will be a four-week programme with a production at the end. It will help build skills like teamwork, discipline, punctuality, and learning lines.”

Representing the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Special Adviser to the President, Moriam Ajaga, encouraged the children to believe in their creativity. “Your stories matter, your ideas are important, and the world is waiting to see what you will create. Many top animators started just like you with simple drawings and big dreams. Animation allows your dreams to walk, talk, and even fly.”

The minister also spoke about the government’s plans to support the animation sector. “We want to grow Nigeria’s animation industry by providing tools, training, and access to opportunities. Through platforms like the Creative Leap Accelerator, animators will get funding, mentorship, and global exposure.”

CEO and Creative Director of Smids Animation Studios, Dami Solesi, shared her excitement at the festival. “This is Toontopia, the very first children’s animation festival, and the kids are having a blast,” she said. “We believe animation is a powerful tool, especially for children. Beyond cartoons, it can be used in education, empowerment, and cultural storytelling.”
She stressed the importance of telling African stories through animation. “How do we share our language, food, and values through animation? That’s what I’m passionate about. We have so many folk tales and historical stories to pass down, and animation is a colourful and creative way to do that.”

Solesi also mentioned that Smids has been running a two-week summer animation camp for eight years. “This festival builds on that. We want more children to join the world of animation, to learn, explore, and tell their stories.”

During the festival, the children watched animated films, including “Hadu” by SMIDS Studios. They also took part in creative activities like drawing, creating their own animations, and a fun sip-and-paint session.