Students of Yaba College of Technology (YabaTech) have been introduced to new opportunities in digital storytelling and animation following a stop-motion animation workshop and symposium aimed at equipping participants with practical, industry-relevant skills.
The event, held at the institution’s College Hall, brought together creative professionals, industry experts, and students for intensive sessions on storytelling, animation techniques, and media production.
Speaking at the workshop, filmmaker and stop-motion animator, Esther Kemi Gbadamosi, described the initiative as a pioneering effort to deepen knowledge of stop-motion animation in Nigeria.
According to her, the symposium, held a day before the practical sessions, featured eight hours of discussions with global experts and industry leaders, exposing participants to international trends and opportunities in stop-motion animation.
“We didn’t just talk about possibilities; we showed them how it is done. Now it is up to the students to decide how they want to apply what they’ve learned,” she said.
Gbadamosi noted that stop-motion animation offers a unique advantage over emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, particularly in originality and ownership.
“Stop motion gives creators full authorship and allows them to present their culture, traditions, and history in authentic ways. Even a one-minute film can gain global recognition,” she added.
She further revealed that her studio recently developed Africa’s first bone-and-socket stop-motion armatures, tools considered essential for professional animation production worldwide.
The innovation, she said, would enable Nigerian creatives to produce films, series, and merchandise that meet international standards.
As part of the programme’s incentives, outstanding participants will receive starter packs containing the armatures, while top-performing students will be offered a six-week paid internship with her studio.
Also speaking, the Centre Director of the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development, Architect Sheriffdeen Ayodele-Oja, said the workshop aligns with the centre’s mandate to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands.
He explained that the centre focuses on equipping students with practical skills to enhance employability and entrepreneurship, moving them from job seekers to job creators.
“This training is part of our broader goal to connect academia, industry, and the community. We don’t just train students; we support them with starter packs and, in some cases, funding to establish their own businesses,” he said.
Ayodele-Oja added that stop-motion animation presents vast opportunities for young Nigerians, especially as global demand grows for fresh and culturally diverse content.
“With platforms becoming saturated, audiences are looking for something new. This skill offers students a chance to stand out, gain international exposure through film festivals, and even earn significant income,” he noted.
Participants at the workshop were taken through hands-on sessions on character creation, use of armatures, and animation processes, with organisers expressing optimism that the initiative would spark a new wave of creative talent in Nigeria’s animation industry.
Reporting By Wahab Akinlade