04:32As Nigeria sets forth plans to reduce the presence of foreign cartoons on television, aiming to bolster local animation and protect children from external cultural influences, animation studios and industry professionals view this initiative as a promising step toward supporting local talent and preserving the industry.
‘It's a very welcome idea, very, very, very, very timely idea!’. This is the reaction of Adebisi Adetayo, Director at 32a Animation Studios in the Nigeria's Lagos, when asked about the step on Wednesday.
He expressed concern over the trend of talented individuals leaving the country, leading to a generation of children growing up without a solid understanding of their own cultures.
The government's objective is to promote and safeguard local national values through native animation, with growing apprehension that children are being inundated with foreign cartoon characters and behaviours. Adebisi echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of planting seeds of cultural awareness through entertainment.
"We're trying to entertain our children, instead of finding entertainment on foreign content which has all the elements that have been infused into it, because animation is not just animation, it's a medium, and it's a medium of deliberately channelling the growth of the younger generation in the direction which the government wants," he said.
He further highlighted the role of animation in preserving Nigeria's linguistic diversity, stating, "So you're gonna preserve the language of the people, that's actually the core culture of the people,"
One of the main problems is not even funding, but the lack of qualified people to realise this idea. But he hopes that will change with time.
Despite the enthusiasm for the policy, challenges remain, particularly the shortage of qualified professionals needed to implement these plans. Adebisi remains optimistic, envisioning positive changes with time.
"It's a very welcome policy because, in terms of impact, it's big, In the sense that there's going to be a bigger diversification for the younger generation," Adebisi Adetayo believes.
However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Some Nigerian media outlets have approached the news with scepticism. Critics argue that while increasing domestic content production is essential, Nigeria faces several pressing issues—such as education, healthcare, and corruption—that require urgent attention, inferring that refining the animation sector should not be a top priority.
Empowering local talent: Nigeria's initiative to ban foreign cartoons, promote preserve national values sparks optimism
As Nigeria sets forth plans to reduce the presence of foreign cartoons on television, aiming to bolster local animation and protect children from external cultural influences, animation studios and industry professionals view this initiative as a promising step toward supporting local talent and preserving the industry.
‘It's a very welcome idea, very, very, very, very timely idea!’. This is the reaction of Adebisi Adetayo, Director at 32a Animation Studios in the Nigeria's Lagos, when asked about the step on Wednesday.
He expressed concern over the trend of talented individuals leaving the country, leading to a generation of children growing up without a solid understanding of their own cultures.
The government's objective is to promote and safeguard local national values through native animation, with growing apprehension that children are being inundated with foreign cartoon characters and behaviours. Adebisi echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of planting seeds of cultural awareness through entertainment.
"We're trying to entertain our children, instead of finding entertainment on foreign content which has all the elements that have been infused into it, because animation is not just animation, it's a medium, and it's a medium of deliberately channelling the growth of the younger generation in the direction which the government wants," he said.
He further highlighted the role of animation in preserving Nigeria's linguistic diversity, stating, "So you're gonna preserve the language of the people, that's actually the core culture of the people,"
One of the main problems is not even funding, but the lack of qualified people to realise this idea. But he hopes that will change with time.
Despite the enthusiasm for the policy, challenges remain, particularly the shortage of qualified professionals needed to implement these plans. Adebisi remains optimistic, envisioning positive changes with time.
"It's a very welcome policy because, in terms of impact, it's big, In the sense that there's going to be a bigger diversification for the younger generation," Adebisi Adetayo believes.
However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Some Nigerian media outlets have approached the news with scepticism. Critics argue that while increasing domestic content production is essential, Nigeria faces several pressing issues—such as education, healthcare, and corruption—that require urgent attention, inferring that refining the animation sector should not be a top priority.
As Nigeria sets forth plans to reduce the presence of foreign cartoons on television, aiming to bolster local animation and protect children from external cultural influences, animation studios and industry professionals view this initiative as a promising step toward supporting local talent and preserving the industry.
‘It's a very welcome idea, very, very, very, very timely idea!’. This is the reaction of Adebisi Adetayo, Director at 32a Animation Studios in the Nigeria's Lagos, when asked about the step on Wednesday.
He expressed concern over the trend of talented individuals leaving the country, leading to a generation of children growing up without a solid understanding of their own cultures.
The government's objective is to promote and safeguard local national values through native animation, with growing apprehension that children are being inundated with foreign cartoon characters and behaviours. Adebisi echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of planting seeds of cultural awareness through entertainment.
"We're trying to entertain our children, instead of finding entertainment on foreign content which has all the elements that have been infused into it, because animation is not just animation, it's a medium, and it's a medium of deliberately channelling the growth of the younger generation in the direction which the government wants," he said.
He further highlighted the role of animation in preserving Nigeria's linguistic diversity, stating, "So you're gonna preserve the language of the people, that's actually the core culture of the people,"
One of the main problems is not even funding, but the lack of qualified people to realise this idea. But he hopes that will change with time.
Despite the enthusiasm for the policy, challenges remain, particularly the shortage of qualified professionals needed to implement these plans. Adebisi remains optimistic, envisioning positive changes with time.
"It's a very welcome policy because, in terms of impact, it's big, In the sense that there's going to be a bigger diversification for the younger generation," Adebisi Adetayo believes.
However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Some Nigerian media outlets have approached the news with scepticism. Critics argue that while increasing domestic content production is essential, Nigeria faces several pressing issues—such as education, healthcare, and corruption—that require urgent attention, inferring that refining the animation sector should not be a top priority.