At the 2025 Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA), the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, unveiled one of the most groundbreaking initiatives in Nigeria’s animation and storytelling landscape the NOA Animation Award, themed “Who Is the Real Nigerian?”
The award, announced during the festival’s policy and creative economy sessions, represents a bold move by the NOA to engage Nigerian animators in redefining national identity through visual storytelling. With a total prize pool of ₦22.5 million, the competition aims to spotlight homegrown talent and encourage the use of animation as a tool for national reorientation, unity, and cultural pride.
A Platform for Nigerian Animators to Shine
The NOA Animation Award is open exclusively to Nigerian creators, celebrating excellence across 3D, 2D, and Stop-Motion categories. Winners will receive:
- ₦10 million for Best 3D Animation
- ₦7.5 million for Best 2D Animation
- ₦5 million for Best Stop-Motion Animation
This prize structure not only incentivizes quality but also recognizes the diversity of animation techniques thriving in the country.
National Reach and Impact
Winning entries will enjoy nationwide broadcast across NOA’s media partners for three months, amplifying the visibility of Nigerian creators to audiences across the country and beyond. This collaboration between government and creatives is expected to strengthen the bridge between public communication, education, and entertainment all through animation.
How to Participate
Entries are to be submitted through Filmway, the official portal for submissions. The entry deadline coincides with the LIFANIMA Awards 2026 submission deadline, giving creators ample time to conceptualize and deliver meaningful projects that reflect the award’s theme: “Who Is the Real Nigerian?”
Shaping Identity Through Animation
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu emphasized that the competition is not just about artistic excellence but about national introspection inspiring Nigerians to reflect on values, integrity, unity, and shared identity through creative expression.
“We want animation to become a mirror of our collective identity to tell the stories of who we truly are, beyond stereotypes. ‘Who Is the Real Nigerian?’ is both a question and a challenge to our creative community,” he stated during the announcement.
A New Chapter for Nigerian Animation
The NOA Animation Award marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s creative history a government-backed recognition that sees animation not just as entertainment but as a tool for social transformation and national reawakening.
With LIFANIMA continuing to serve as a premier stage for African animation, and the NOA’s new initiative empowering local creators, 2026 is already shaping up to be a landmark year for Nigerian storytelling one where art, identity, and purpose meet on screen.