The appeal was made on Tuesday in Abuja during the official unveiling of the festival, where industry stakeholders highlighted the need to invest in creative platforms that empower children and prepare the next generation of African storytellers.
Speaking at the launch, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abubakar Yakubu, said the festival would provide children with opportunities to discover and develop their creative talents while using film as a medium to promote African values, traditions and identity.
According to him, the Guild is seeking sponsorships and strategic partnerships to ensure the successful hosting of the maiden edition and create a safe and supportive environment where children can explore their creativity through filmmaking.
“We need lovers of children. We are calling on ministries, agencies, non-governmental organisations and industry players to key into this vision and make a safe haven for our children to grow,” Yakubu said.
He emphasised the importance of guiding young creatives to produce authentic African stories instead of merely replicating trends from social media, noting that proper mentorship would remain a key feature of the festival.
“There must be an element that promotes your culture, your tradition and your beliefs, not what you see on social media. We will ensure they are properly mentored to follow professional guidelines and produce stories that are truly ours, not borrowed stories,” he added.
Yakubu explained that the primary objective of the festival is talent development rather than financial returns, describing filmmaking as an effective tool for education, entertainment and social transformation.
“The immediate goal is not to make money. It is to help children express their creativity in positive ways that educate and inspire people. Through the festival, we will begin to explore the limitless creativity of our children and shape the future of Nigeria’s film industry,” he said.
Also speaking, the festival's Director, Beth Ogbuefi, described the African Children's Film Festival as more than just a film event, saying it represents a movement that places African children at the heart of storytelling and cultural expression.
She disclosed that the maiden edition is themed "Our Stories, Our Lens, Our Voices" and is open to children of African heritage between the ages of five and 18, irrespective of where they reside.
According to Ogbuefi, the festival is intended to empower children to tell their own stories and reshape narratives that have often been defined by others.
“Our theme this year captures the very essence of what ACFF stands for. It is a declaration that African children are not just passive audiences but active creators. They have stories to tell, perspectives to share and voices that deserve to be heard on the global stage,” she said.
She added that participants would be exposed to various aspects of filmmaking, including scriptwriting, directing, animation and digital storytelling, while also benefiting from mentorship programmes, workshops and masterclasses facilitated by industry professionals.
Ogbuefi further announced that participation in the festival would be free, a decision aimed at encouraging entries from children, schools and young creatives across Africa and the diaspora.
She also called on governments, private organisations and development partners to support the initiative through sponsorships and strategic collaborations, noting that such partnerships would be critical to the successful launch and long-term sustainability of the festival.
The African Children's Film Festival is expected to serve as a platform for discovering young creative talents, fostering cultural pride and equipping children with practical filmmaking skills that could shape the future of Africa's creative industry.