Animation specialists at Yabatech encourage Nigerians to share their unique experiences and culture through animated storytelling.

Nigeria's narrative is in dire need of a creative resurgence, a notion that took center stage at Yaba College of Technology, where a landmark stop-motion animation symposium and workshop was recently held, bringing together global and local animation experts, academics, and industry stakeholders.

n

The event, which took place at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium, was organized by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in collaboration with Radioxity Stop Motion Academy, highlighting the urgent need for Africans to reclaim their storytelling legacy.

n

Esther Kemi Gbadamosi, Chief Executive Officer of Radioxity Media, delivered a keynote address, lamenting the lack of a coordinated cultural movement in Nigeria, and noting that despite the richness of African stories, they are often produced and interpreted by foreign creators.

n

Gbadamosi emphasized that African stories are being showcased on global platforms, but are not being told by Africans, citing her experiences at international film gatherings, and warning that if Nigerians do not take the initiative to tell their own stories, others will do so, potentially distorting the narrative.

n

She referenced historical distortions, such as the narratives surrounding early European exploration of Africa, as examples of how storytelling shapes perception and legacy, and emphasized that stop-motion animation presents a unique opportunity for Nigerians to project authentic cultural expressions to global audiences.

n

Arc. Sherifdeen Ayodele-Oja, Director of the TETFund Centre for Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development, welcomed attendees, describing the initiative as part of a broader strategy to bridge the gap between academia and industry while promoting entrepreneurship and innovation.

n

The Centre, established in 2021 as one of six polytechnic Centres of Excellence in Nigeria, is committed to equipping students with industry-relevant skills and fostering applied research capable of addressing national development challenges, according to Ayodele-Oja.

n

Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, Rector of the College, emphasized the importance of creativity and consistency in achieving excellence, in an address delivered by Dr. Ismail Badmus, Deputy Rector (Academics), noting that stop-motion animation teaches us that great things are built one small step at a time.

n

The symposium also featured contributions from international animation experts joining virtually, reinforcing the global dimension of the initiative, and highlighting the potential for collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the field of stop-motion animation.