The Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Ms. Hannatu Musa Musawa, will officially declare open the 9th edition of the Lagos International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA) on October 7, 2025.
The ceremony is scheduled to hold at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.
In a statement made available to TCN, the organisers said the Minister, in her commendation of the festival, praised LIFANIMA’s “commitment in promoting the sustainable growth and development of Nigeria’s Creative Economy,” describing the initiative as a driving force in positioning Nigeria and Africa as a hub for world-class animation.
LIFANIMA is considered to be Nigeria’s premier animation film festival, and over the years it has grown into the second-largest animation film festival in Africa.
Since its inception in 2016, the festival has become a benchmark for excellence, innovation, and collaboration in the animation industry.
Every year, the festival attracts over 1,200 submissions from more than 100 countries, including at least 128 entries from 25 African nations.
Proudly supported by the Embassy of France in Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency, Bank of Industry and Checkers Africa, LIFANIMA enjoys strong institutional endorsements from the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, and the National Film and Video Censors Board.
For nine years, LIFANIMA has provided an exceptional platform for the development of animation in Nigeria. It has also supported the implementation of Nigeria’s national policy on the localization of cartoon content, ensuring that Nigerian and African voices shape the narratives being consumed by local and global audiences.
Through its yearly programmes, LIFANIMA serves as a catalyst for the rapid growth of the creative economy, inspiring innovation, nurturing new talents, and giving visibility to African animators.
The festival has also entrenched Nigeria on the global map of animation film festivals, attracting stakeholders, investors, and creatives from across continents.
The three-day event, which will run from October 7 to 9, 2025, will showcase a rich line-up of activities designed to entertain, educate, and inspire:
The line-up include film screenings and conversations on ‘Premiering global and African animation content’; as well as panel sessions and workshops.
There will also be knowledge exchange with industry experts and opportunities to explore emerging trends in animation.
There will also be the Kids Animation Park: A space dedicated to children’s creativity and early exposure to animation.
Cocktail Parties and Networking Events: Building connections across creative industries.
LIFANIMA Animation Awards: Celebrating outstanding works in **five major categories – 3D Animation, 2D Animation, Stop Motion Animation, Animation Commercials, and Visual Effects.
The festival continues to pursue its foundational objectives, which include:
To promote the rapid development of the animation industry in Nigeria and across Africa.
To improve the movie industry through increased inclusion of animation content.
To provide a platform for local animators to showcase their talents and improve the quality of their work.
To expose animators to the latest animation technologies, both hardware and software.
Over the years, LIFANIMA has transformed into a cultural and professional hub where creativity meets opportunity. It has not only amplified the visibility of Nigerian and African animators but also encouraged collaborations that have expanded the continent’s animation footprint globally. By fostering partnerships, innovation, and storytelling excellence, LIFANIMA continues to prove that Africa’s animation industry is ready to compete at the highest international levels.
As the Honourable Minister, Hannatu Musawa, flags off the 2025 edition, “LIFANIMA is set to further consolidate its role as a trailblazer for creative content, cultural expression, and economic growth in Nigeria and across Africa,” the statement reads.
