By Oyintutu Oyinkolade
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Mr Abubakar Yakubu, has called for stakeholders’ support for the maiden African Children’s Film Festival (ACFF) 2026 to nurture the next generation of African filmmakers.
Yakubu made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.
He said the initiative would provide a platform to discover, mentor and showcase children’s creativity while promoting African culture and values.
He called on governments, ministries, agencies, non-governmental organisations and corporate bodies to support the festival through sponsorship and partnerships.
“we need lovers of children. We are calling on ministries, agencies, NGOs and industry players to key into this vision and make a safe haven for our children to grow,” he said.
Yakubu said that children needed proper mentorship to tell authentic African stories rather than imitate inappropriate content on social media.
“There must be an element to promote your culture, your tradition, your belief, not what you see on social media.
“We ensure that they are properly mentored to follow guidelines, to produce stories that are our own, not stories that we borrow to belong,” he said.
According to him, the festival is not primarily about commercial gains but about nurturing creativity and using film to educate, inform and entertain.
He stressed that investing in children’s talents would help shape the future of Africa’s film industry.
“So the immediate nurture is not for you to be making money, It’s for you to express your creativity in a positive way that will ensure people are learning.
“Through the festival, we will begin to explore the limitless creativity of our children.
“We will begin to regulate the future of Nigerian film industry in all its ramifications. You’ll be amazed of the kind of ideas that children have in making films,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director of African Children Film Festival, Beth Ogbuefi, described the festival as a movement that placed children at the centre of storytelling and cultural expression.
Ogbuefi said the festival, themed “Our Stories, Our Lens, Our Voices,” was open to children of African heritage aged between five and 18 years.
She said African children were not merely audiences, but creators with unique perspectives that deserved global recognition.
“Our theme this year captures the very essence of what ACFF stands for. It’s a declaration that African children are not just passive audience, but active creators.
“They have stories to tell, perspectives to share, and voices that deserve to be heard on a global stage.
“For too long, the narrative of African children has been shaped by others, ACFF exists to change that, ”she said.
Ogbuefi said the festival was created to enable children write scripts, direct stories and express themselves through film, animation and digital storytelling.
She said ACFF would provide mentorship, workshops and masterclasses to equip participants with lifelong creative skills.
According to her, children of African heritage worldwide are eligible to participate, irrespective of their country of residence.
“This festival is not only about screening and awards, it is about mentorship, workshops, and masterclasses that equip children with lifelong skills.
“It is about cultural showcases that celebrate Africans’ diversity,” she said.
Ogbuefi said the festival offered free registration to encourage wider participation by children and schools.
She appealed to governments, corporate organisations and development partners to support the initiative through sponsorships and partnerships. NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi