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NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY UNVEILS N22.5m ANIMATION AWARD
National Orientation Agency NOA, has unveiled a new animation award, with a total cash prize of N22,500,000. The award was unveiled at the 9th Lagos International Festival of Animation, LIFANIMA on Thursday October 9th, 2025. This project is being implemented in partnership with LIFANIMA.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Director-General of National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said the project is a unique opportunity for our creative community to engage with the Nigerian Identity Project—an initiative of the NOA aimed at promoting the ideals captured in the National Values Charter (NVC).
According to him, “The NVC outlines seven national promises and seven citizen codes that define who we are, what we stand for, and the values that unite us as Nigerians. Through this award, we invite our animators to interpret these ideals and express them through the powerful art of storytelling and animation”.
Speaking further at the event, he revealed the theme for this year’s challenge as:
“Who is a Real Nigerian?” a question which according to him, goes beyond appearances or geography but invites reflection on the true spirit of our people—our resilience, our optimism, our creativity, and our collective sense of responsibility.
Participants are required to create a three-minute maximum animated short film, using 2D, 3D, or stop-motion techniques, that creatively explores what it means to be a Real Nigerian. The focus is not on the form of animation, but on the strength of the narrative—the story that connects with our shared identity and national values.
Says Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, “This competition is exclusive to Nigerians, designed to empower local creators and strengthen national pride. Whether you are an individual animator, a small studio, or a creative company, this platform belongs to you. It is an open invitation to use your talent to inspire others and help shape the image of our nation through your craft”.
The NOA Animation Award 2026 offers a total prize value of Twenty-Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N22,500,000):
₦10 million for the first prize,
₦7.5 million for the second, and
₦5 million for the third.
Beyond the financial prizes, winning entries will enjoy nationwide broadcast exposure across all NOA partner networks, including major television platforms, for a period of three months following the LIFANIMA 2026 Awards Night.
All entries are to be submitted online through FilmFreeway (www.filmfreeway.com/lifanima), consistent with the regular LIFANIMA submission process. The deadline for entries will coincide with the festival’s normal submission period in June 2026. The Festival will start receiving submissions to the competition in January 2026.
Lagos International Festival of Animation, LIFANIMA, at its just concluded 9th edition, has announced the winners in the festival’s five award categories.
The festival received 1,337 submissions from 114 countries.
The award for Best Visual Effects went to FIRE REGALIA, directed by Enose Emmanuel while Best Animation Commercial was awarded to BANKING NEVER STOPS WITH KEYSTONE BANK, directed by Chinagozim Abraham.
THE TRAVAILS OF AJADI, directed by Adetunji Adeoye picked up the award for Best Stop Motion Animation. Francis Brown’s BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS won in the 3D Animation category while Damilola Solesi’s HADU won the award for Best 2D Animation.
At this year’s festival, the National Orientation Agency, NOA also unveiled the NOA ANIMATION AWARD, with a total cash prize of N22,500,000.
This contest is implemented in partnership with LIFANIMA and call for entries will open soon.
The panel sessions were engaging with panelists drawn from government, private sector and animation professionals from Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa.
Kids were not left out of LIFANIMA 2025 as the festival’s Kids Animation Park came alive with numerous activities and animation screening for them.
LIFANIMA’s amazing outing in 2025 has been made possible by our fantastic sponsors and partners, including Embassy of France in Nigeria, National Orientation Agency, Bank of Industry, Checkers Custard and Sovereign Trust Insurance.
Our media partners are The Cyber Crew, The Culture Newspaper, TCN, The Art Hub, Comic Panel World, Brand Crunch, 3P Primaa Promotions, The Podium and BreezyNews.
Raila Odinga, former Kenyan Prime Minister, has died at the age of 80, family sources have confirmed.
Odinga died on Wednesday while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in India. Indian police told the AFP news agency that he was walking with family members and a personal doctor “when he suddenly collapsed”.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.
This is in confirmation of the prophecy of Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele, which he shared on the 22nd of December, 2024, at the presentation of his prophecies for 2025.
The prophecies presented in a 90-page document featured several warnings to countries, personalities, politicians, government organisations, and corporate organisations, to mention but a few.
In his prophecy to Kenya, the prophet stated that the country will lose a prominent politician. He also noted that he foresaw the country’s flag flying at half mast, indicating the relevance of the politician.
These were his words:
“KENYA: The president will take some steps that will boomerang, which can cause another unrest in the country. The President will borrow funds. The youth will go on a protest against the policies of the President. Honorables members in Kenya will escape attacks and assassinations. There will be climatic problems in Kenya. Opposition will rise against the President. Two governors will face impeachment. The sincere efforts of the President will be frustrated. Pray against the death of a prominent politician in Kenya as I foresee that the country will fly his flag at half mast.”
No doubt, this has been fulfilled.
By Collins Nkwocha
Omoyele Sowore is gathering momentum as he seeks to procure the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu who has been in detention since 2021 after he was arrested and brought back to Nigeria, under the regime of the late president,Mohammodu Buhari.
Sowore is mobilizing for a massive protest on the 20th of October in the quest for Kanu’s release and they’ve been scheduled to march to Aso Rock for this course .
The prophetic hall of Fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry,has warned Omoyele Sowore not to venture marching to Aso Rock to destabilize the peace of the nation as peaceful dialogue would have been the best for this course “I want to warn Sowore not to dare marching to Aso Rock to destabilize the peace of Nigeria for the sake of Kanu, the president doesn’t have anything against Kanu I strongly believe that as a father that has a good heart and doesn’t want the Igbo speaking people to feel threatened in the Nigerian nation,he would listen,it wasn’t the president that arrested him,I have prayed and fasted on this matter as the prophet of the nation, despite the fact that Kanu did a lot of grave things while he was free,he kept abusing and insulting everyone without any atom of respect,he actually presented himself as a threat to the unity of Nigeria,but we have to forgive because as a clergyman, the bible preaches forgiveness, so we have to forgive, Sowore is supposed to bring people forward for dialogue for Kanu’s release,not mobilizing for protest to disrupt the peace of Mr.president who is busy thinking and strategizing on how to advance the nation,I want to State it emphatically, don’t dare March to Aso Rock”.
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