Animation Hub, Lagos, said animation has the potential to tackle real-world challenges effectively.
In a statement shared with The PUNCH, the co-founder of Animation Hub, Adetunwase Adenle, spoke about the importance of preparing young Nigerians for the digital era during the recent Interschool Animation and Artificial Intelligence Competition.
The event, organised by Animation Hub with support from First City Monument Bank, aimed to foster digital literacy and creativity among young Nigerians.
A student of Testimony College, Aroloye Goodluck emerged as the winner from a pool of over 900 participants, with Abdusalam Akapo and Jubilee Ogbeie securing the first and second runner-up spots, respectively.
“The world is going digital, and we must empower our children to tell their stories. Animation and technology provide the tools for this transformation,” Adenle said.
Adenle outlined the program’s scope, which was initially unveiled on June 28 in FESTAC and has since trained over 1,000 schools.
In its pilot stage, the program offered a five-day, free training session to 1,000 students from 100 schools. The top three winners were awarded prizes to encourage further participation.
“We aim to scale up by training students from 1,000 schools and providing affordable tools, such as laptops, to enable them to work remotely and contribute to the economy,” he added.
Adenle also emphasised the program’s focus on accessibility, inviting parents, schools, and communities to nominate students for the training, which was available online.
“We encourage parents to take advantage of the affordable laptops available through installment payment plans. “We want our children to work remotely, generate income, and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP,” he said.
He also called for government support in creating an organised database of participants and utilising NYSC members in a train-the-trainer model to expand the program’s outreach.
Reflecting on his victory, Goodluck attributed his success to dedication and perseverance.
During his opening address, Abraham Samuel praised the students’ dedication and enthusiasm.
“We are here to celebrate the outstanding creativity and hard work of our students.
“Over the past week, we have seen the Top 10 Animation Projects, showcasing not just technical skills, but also storytelling ability.”
Samuel highlighted that the initiative went beyond animation skills, fostering artistic expression, and problem-solving, and preparing students for careers in animation and artificial intelligence.
“This program introduces students not only to animation tools but also to the art of storytelling and creative problem-solving.
“We are proud of their achievements and excited to see how they will continue to grow,” he said.
Lead of Sustainability Reporting and Corporate Social Responsibility at FCMB, Omoniyi Iyanda, also spoke at the event about AI’s transformative potential in addressing real-world challenges.
“AI empowers students to recognise and solve problems, from healthcare to financial services. Innovations like these are making essential services more accessible,” Iyanda said.
