NOA Launches ₦22.5 Million Animation Award to Promote Nigerian Values
Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu. Photo: NOA/X
In a move to strengthen national identity through creativity, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has unveiled a new ₦22.5 million Animation Award aimed at promoting Nigerian values and unity through storytelling.
The award, launched at the 9th Lagos International Festival of Animation, seeks to inspire local animators to tell authentic Nigerian stories that reflect who we are as a people — resilient, optimistic, and united in diversity.
According to Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of NOA, the initiative is part of the Nigerian Identity Project, designed to advance the ideals in the National Values Charter (NVC) — a framework built around seven national promises and seven citizen codes that define Nigeria’s collective identity.
“Through this award, we invite our animators to interpret our national ideals and express them through the powerful art of storytelling and animation,”- Issa-Onilu .
Theme: “Who is a Real Nigerian?”
The inaugural edition of the competition carries the theme “Who is a Real Nigerian?”, a thought-provoking question that challenges citizens to look beyond appearances or geography and explore the true spirit of being Nigerian.
Participants — who must be Nigerians — are expected to create a three-minute animated short film using 2D, 3D, or stop-motion techniques. The key evaluation criteria will focus on the strength of the story and its connection to Nigerian values, rather than animation style or complexity.
Prizes and Opportunities for Animators
The competition offers a total of ₦22.5 million in cash prizes:
₦10 million – First Prize
₦7.5 million – Second Prize
₦5 million – Third Prize
Beyond monetary rewards, winners will enjoy nationwide broadcast exposure for three months across NOA’s partner networks and major TV platforms — giving their work both recognition and reach.
The NOA Animation Award is more than a contest; it’s a national call to action for creatives to use art as a tool for unity, pride, and transformation. By telling our stories through animation, Nigerian youths can shape narratives that celebrate who we truly are — a nation of strength, creativity, and shared purpose.
