Adeoye Adetunji Wins ₦10m NOA Animation Award for ‘The Lion of Gwoza’

Adeoye Adetunji Wins ₦10m NOA Animation Award for ‘The Lion of Gwoza’

Nigerian animator Adeoye Adetunji has won the top prize at the 2026 Nigeria International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) for his work, The Lion of Gwoza, earning the ₦10 million NOA Animation Award.

The grand finale of the festival was held at the Alliance Française/Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, with the award sponsored by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to encourage the production of Nigerian cartoons inspired by local culture, values and the Nigerian experience.

The award forms part of efforts to promote indigenous content and strengthen national value orientation through creative media, following a policy approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2024.

Announcing the winners, NOA Director-General, Malam Lanre Issa-Omilu, said Oluwatooniloba Odunuga emerged second with What Makes a Real Nigerian, receiving ₦7.5 million, while Oluwasegun Joseph Ogundeji took third place with The Ones Who Don’t Stop, winning ₦5 million.

The three winners were selected from more than 150 entries submitted from across the country on the theme, Who Is a Real Nigerian?

Representing the Director-General, the Director of Special Duties and States Operations, David Akoji, emphasised the importance of animated storytelling in promoting national identity, civic consciousness and character development among young people.

He called on stakeholders in education, government, policymaking, animation and the private sector to work together to build a sustainable animation ecosystem in Nigeria.

Akoji explained that the prize money represents a direct Federal Government intervention aimed at addressing the shortage of indigenous content in the country’s animation industry.

He added that the government’s policy seeks to ensure that Nigerian-produced cartoons account for 70 per cent of cartoon content viewed in the country.

The Festival Director of LIFANIMA, Muyiwa Kayode, described the NOA Animation Award as a major highlight of the event, noting that Nigerian animation was receiving increased recognition through financial incentives and concrete government policy.

Kayode urged young creatives to increase their production output to meet the proposed 70 per cent target for indigenous animation content across local broadcasting platforms.

He reaffirmed the festival’s commitment to promoting homegrown animation, saying: “We want Nigerian children watching Nigerian animation.”

Other NOA officials present at the ceremony included the Director of Finance and Accounts, Haruna Sule; Director of Media and Communication, Bala Musa; Director of Procurement, Kenneth Onyejepu; and the Lagos State Director, Dr Tukur Mustafa Adedeji.

The festival also recognised technical and artistic excellence across several animation categories, with awards presented by agency officials and private-sector executives.

Kainji, directed by Kaydina Esor and Damilola Solesi, won Best 2D Animation, while Uniquely Me, directed by Ayodele Elegba, received the Best 3D Animation award.

New Beginnings, directed by Temitope Samson Falade, won Best Visual Effects, while The Lion of Gwoza also secured the Best Stop Motion Animation award. Keep Nigeria Clean, directed by Oluwatoyin Adeosun, won Best Animated Commercial.

The awards highlight growing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s animation industry, support local creative talent and encourage the development of stories that reflect the country’s identity, values and experiences.

Adeoye Adetunji Wins ₦10m NOA Animation Award for ‘The Lion of Gwoza’