Damilola Solesi

Damilola Solesi is an accomplished Animation Director and Producer, the CEO and Creative Director of SMIDS Animation Studios, which she founded in 2010. Under her leadership, SMIDS has become one of the leading animation companies in Africa, earning recognition as one of the top two animation companies in Nigeria according to the EY Industry Report 2019.
With a focus on 2D & 3D animation, SMIDS has successfully completed numerous projects for various clients and is currently working on creating children's content for television and the web. Their TV series, "The Makerbolts," made history as the first Nigerian animation studio to be selected as a finalist at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival's "Animation du monde" category, after successfully progressing through regional and continental stages. In addition, they have produced several animated series for clients and are currently in production for their highly anticipated premier animated series, "UYI." One of their notable productions is the critically acclaimed series "BOXED," which is currently airing on YouTube.
Damilola's expertise and achievements have garnered international recognition. She has served as a Juror for the 2020-2022 International Emmy Awards, appointed by the esteemed International Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences. In 2020 and 2022, she was also selected as MIPTV's "Producer To Watch." Her exceptional leadership and strategic management have played a crucial role in the success of SMIDS Animation Studios.

Lara Akinwolere

Mrs Omolara Akinwolere, is the founder of Lara Craft Toys, the 1st environmentally friendly toy and learning resources manufacturing company based in Abuja, Nigeria. She is also the Director at Judy's Preparatory School, an innovative school dedicated to providing exceptional educational services to children.
Prior to being an entrepreneur, she gathered several years of work experience in the corporate environment with reputable companies such as Nigerian Breweries Plc, Airtel Networks Limited and Access Bank Plc.
She is an alumni of The University of Manchester, where she completed her M.Sc in Management and Information Systems: Change & Development as well as the University of Lagos, where she obtained her B.sc in Business Administration. She is passionate about improving the quality of education in Nigeria, through quality teaching and learning aids.
She has held several training sessions for parents and teachers, educating them on how to engage children through a multi-sensory approach in teaching. She is a very creative individual and is constantly seeking knowledge on how to create innovative products, that will boost the Nigerian economy. She hopes that her innovations will be utilized by the African continent as a whole.

Louisa Olafuyi

Louisa Olafuyi is the co-founder of Kunda Kids, an award-winning children's publishing and media company, She is responsible for driving creative and strategic development. With experience in consumer insight and marketing from her time at Cambridge University Press and Unilever, She has been able to lead Kunda Kids to become a world-leading provider of fun and diverse children's content.
She has a background as a journalist and researcher and this has also helped her to develop her natural storytelling abilities, which she also used to lead marketing for TEDxEuston and previously ran a successful podcast and blog. Her passion for creative entrepreneurship, parenting, and improving diversity in children's media has driven her to share her thoughts and insights on these topics through my writing. She is committed to inspiring and empowering the next generation through engaging and culturally rich content.

Namse Udosen

Namse is the author of Amang Goes to the Village, Fundamental Etiquette for Young Nigerians and School Plant Management in Nigeria. He also has two free eBooks for children one of which is Silly Sally which has been translated to Hausa language.
He is a 2023/24 Chevening Scholarship recipient. His essays have been published in esteemed publications such as Writers Space Africa Magazine, Ake Review-Journal, Daily Trust Newspaper, Qwenu Magazine, and Curriculum Studies Journal among other notable outlets. He has been invited as a distinguished guest on various broadcast and social media to discuss education and literacy development. He has also served as a panellist and facilitator at numerous literary events. In recognition of his exceptional talent, he was awarded the title of Artist of the Month for 2020 by the Yasmine El Rufai Literary Foundation. Furthermore, he served as a mentor for the foundation's Teen Creative Writing Mentorship Program in 2021.
Annually, Namse orchestrates an event known as Tanar Kaduna Bookathon which aims to create culturally relevant books for Nigerian children through volunteer efforts. He conducts workshops that aid artists and writers in mastering the fundamentals necessary to craft engaging children's literature works with ease. He was recognized as one of the 500 World Literacy Advocates for 2020 by the World Literacy Foundation. Namse has held leadership positions in various organizations such as Writers Space Africa and serves on the board of the Jury for the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children's Literature. Additionally, he hosts a monthly podcast where he reads stories to children on Ayambalitcast.
On September 8th, 2021, he organized the first Walk for Literacy in Northern Nigeria in Kaduna and conducted teacher training in various schools there.

Noma Sodipo

Noma Sodipo, a.k.a. Auntie Noma, writes extensively for children. She is author of A PRE-SCHOOL ALPHABET BOOK AND A TREASURY OF AFRICAN NAMES, with a foreword by Professor Grace Alele-Williams, and an acknowledgement by Queen Elizabeth II. She has hosted a number of TV, radio and YouTube programmes including the award-winning STORYTIME WITH AUNTIE NOMA on AFRICAMAGIC, Channels, BEN TV Europe and other channels as well as Wazobia’s Storytime With Paint and Bake.
Through the daily radio programmes, TWO MINUTE ALPHABET AND AFRICAN NAMES and STORYTIME WITH AUNTIE NOMA as well as a Saturday live show on Nigeria info FM, she brings over twenty years’ experience of nursery education and consulting for the Early Years to preschoolers and young children all around. Her latest release, NIGERIA HOTCHPOTCH, is a must-read for all young and young at heart! Her recent Alphabet Activity series is set to transform the culture of African learning too!
Noma Sodipo is a recipient of the GWIIN and PAWIIN Awards. She is a blessed wife and mother of three.

Oladele Olafuyi

Oladele Olafuyi is the co-founder of Kunda Kids, an experienced business manager with a strong ability to think outside of the box and simplify complex business challenges. He possesses a deep understanding of global marketing and excels in responsive strategies to address changing customer and consumer needs.
His extensive experience encompasses strategy and planning, business development, brand marketing, trade marketing, digital marketing, sales, and conducting business in Africa. His mission is to contribute to a world where all children of African descent are represented in the books they read, the music they listen to, and the animations they watch through Kunda Kids.

Ronke Giwa-Onafuwa

Ronke Giwa-Onafuwa is the author of Lara's Lessons and LULU LEARNS. She co-wrote Lulu Learns with her 5 year old daughter; Tobani. She is an award-winning broadcaster with over 12 year's experience in radio broadcasting, content creator, girl-child advocate and convener of "Who's that Girl Nigeria"; a forum geared towards empowering impressionable young girls in their teenage years. She is also the convener of "TalkMummy", an online support group/community for mums based in Ibadan, Nigeria.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the Lagos State University, an HND in music production and performance from the prestigious London Centre for Contemporary Music and a Master's degree in Communication and Language Arts from the premier University of Ibadan.

Tania Omotayo-Teller

Tania Omotayo is an acclaimed model, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and the owner of the famous fashion house "Ziva Lagos". Her interest is poised to reconnect young Africans in the diaspora to their roots and was achieved through her book Sarai's Culture Day. Tania Omotayo advocates that young people know that their originality is their superpower! Noting that Sarai's Culture Day' is inspired by her three-year-old daughter, Sarai.

Tobani Giwa-Onafuwa