Nollywood’s child content push opens opportunity

Nollywood has begun championing movies tailored towards children and young audiences, thereby opening up an opportunity for players in the industry.

For over a decade, the industry has faced a quiet crisis, a lack of depth in its pool of child actors, driven by a near absence of children’s programming tailored to young audiences.

Despite being one of the world’s most prolific film industries, Nollywood has largely sidelined content tailored for young audiences, leaving a generation of potential talent untapped and its youngest viewers underserved.

Now, glimmers of change are emerging. Studios like Anthill are launching family-oriented platforms, while Nigerian-made animated content is gaining traction on global streaming services, signalling a long-overdue effort to bridge the gap.

Yet, as the industry takes its first tentative steps toward nurturing child actors and programming, a pressing question remains, is this slow awakening enough to revive a neglected legacy and reshape Nollywood’s storytelling landscape?

The state of child acting in Nollywood

Nollywood has a history of producing talented child actors who have gone on to have successful careers. However, recent years have seen fewer opportunities for young performers.

Some child actors have still managed to shine. Darasimi Nadi, for instance, won Best Child Actress at the 2024 Best of Nollywood Awards for her role in ‘Unknown Soja’ and has featured in over 14 movies, including ‘Obara’m,’ ‘A Father’s Love,’ ‘Tokunbo,’ and ‘Summer Rain.’

Simisola Gbadamosi made history as the first Nigerian child actor to earn an Emmy nomination for voicing Tola in Disney’s animated series, ‘Iwájú.’ Meanwhile, Maleek Sani, a skit-maker-turned-actor, gained recognition for his role in ‘Gangs of Lagos,’ with Ashafa Salamot earning acclaim for her performance in ‘Suspicion,’ streaming on Amazon Prime.

Desmond Ekunwe, a Nollywood film producer said, “I think, over the years, we have seen more audacious acting from kids with the rise of training platforms like ‘Kids Can Act’ by Stan Nze and other platforms as well. We are also seeing these kids take all roles and become great at them as against previous years when the kids were used as fillers.

“Now, the kid actors pull their weight in the film and then we are getting to the point where we have the Disney stars and others are doing phenomenally well enough to understand the story and adapt to their character on the director’s command.”

Stan Nze, Nollywood actor and founder of the ‘Kids Can Act’ programme, said that there are little or no platforms that discover kids who have the talent to act. He said most times children who have real passion for acting do not know where to go or how to channel their creativity.

Read also: Nollywood’s 12-month haul sets stage for 2025 success

Historical context

Child actors have played a crucial role in Nollywood since its early days. Stars like Regina Daniels, who debuted at age seven in 2007, and Williams Uchemba, who started acting in 2000, transitioned from child roles into successful adult careers.

More recently, young actors from the early 2010s such as Adaeze Onuigbo, Mercy Kenneth, Sharon Ifedi, and the Oguike sisters continue to build on this legacy, often starring alongside industry veterans and amassing large social media followings.

“I think it’s about our educational system. I know of one family who homeschools their kids in acting. A lot of Nigerian parents are still sceptical about pushing their children into the creative space, giving them options. If there was an opportunity for them to be homeschooled, that would’ve been great. Also finding that balance between filming and giving your child a good education, which is from 8am to 3pm, poses a challenge,” Ekunwe, earlier quoted, said.

Despite these challenges, some parents are beginning to embrace creative careers for their children, thanks to exposure and evolving mindsets. Initiatives like ‘Kids Can Act’ have helped young actors gain mainstream roles. For instance, Pamilerin Ayodeji and Fiyinfoluwa Asenuga were voiced characters in Niyi Akinmolayan’s 2023 animated film ‘Mikolo.’

Managing child actors

Beyond training, young actors need proper representation. Nollywood actor Moshood Fattah highlighted the risks of child actors navigating the industry without guidance:

Fattah advised that parents, older siblings, or trusted friends should act as agents or managers for these young artists, providing a protective presence and ensuring fair deals. He believes that having experienced adults involved in negotiations can safeguard young talents from exploitation and ensure they receive proper compensations for their work.

Current gaps

Nollywood once had a thriving children’s content scene, with shows like ‘KiddieVision 101’ (anchored by Denrele Edun), ‘Tales by Moonlight,’ ‘Papa Ajasco & Company,’ and ‘Binta and Friends’ dominating the 1990s and early 2000s.

However, the arrival of DStv in 2003 shifted the landscape. The introduction of international children’s channels like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel led to a decline in locally produced kids’ programming.

Meanwhile, Nollywood filmmakers have prioritised adult-focused content, as cinema ticket sales and streaming subscriptions largely come from older audiences.

“The investment in TV shows for kids is getting worse. There is always that assumption that we need to think of it as holistic family programming and put the child in there so the whole family can watch, as against programming that is curated for the child. There are a few channels but we need TV platforms for more accessibility,” Ekunwe said.

Change on the horizon

However, change is on the horizon. On February 18, 2025, Anthill Studios announced the launch of Anthill Family, a platform dedicated to children’s content in Nigeria. Founder Niyi Akinmolayan emphasised the need for quality kids’ programming.

He expressed concern about the frequent oversight of children’s movies by the Nigerian film industry and noted that a shift in this trend is necessary.

Trends and future direction

International collaborations are helping to revive interest in Nollywood’s young talent. Platforms like Disney+ and Netflix are showcasing Nigerian child actors and fostering the production of kid-friendly content. ‘Iwájú’ on Disney+ and the upcoming ‘Iyanu’,’ a new animated series by Roye Okupe, highlight this growing trend.

As of February 2025, Nollywood was experiencing a gradual but promising shift. With standout child actors, expanding training programmes and new initiatives like Anthill Family and Kids Can Act, the industry may finally be on the path to restoring its legacy in children’s programming. While challenges remain, these efforts signal a potential renaissance for kids’ content in Nigeria’s film industry.