Following the buzz of a successful geek and gaming timeout in the month of June by Comic Con Ibadan and Nexal Gaming, West Africa’s largest city, Ibadan is set for another round of fun, comics, geeks, cosplay, and many more in the month of July at the maiden edition of Ibadan Fan Expo, courtesy of the convener of Lagos Comic Con and RendaCon.

The event was teased earlier in January by Ayodele Elegba, CEO of Spoof! Animations as part of the lineup of events for the year. It is set to be held on Saturday, 26th of July, at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan.

As is customary at gatherings of comic, gaming, and animation lovers, the Ibadan Fan Expo will be featuring panel sessions. Scourge Comics, formerly known as Mafor Comics, will have its Co-Founder, Valeroy Saint-Verlaine, with a host of other industry leaders, talk about mentorship, collaboration, and the future of comics in Nigeria. Founder of Gameverse Africa, Louis Whyte Jonah, will also be speaking alongside the Co-founder of Mobiele Esports Company, Sayo Owolabi, and others about the Rise of Esports in Nigeria.

There’s also plenty at stake for creatives and fans. A total prize pool of ₦250,000 has been announced across several competitions. ₦100,000 each for winners in both the kids and adult cosplay categories, and ₦50,000 for the drawing competition, with winners gaining access to a 2-month physical learning and internship program at Spoof! Animations.

Beyond panels and contests, the expo will feature comic exhibitors like Etta Studios, stage performances by Martha, anime merchandise from Ades Anime, delicious bites from LaKay Foods, drinks by Slosh, and many more, adding to the vibe, fun, and entertainment of the event.

Adding an exciting twist, the organisers have partnered with Filmhouse Cinemas to offer two-in-one tickets: a movie pass that also grants access to the expo. More details about this offer, competition guidelines, and full event programming can be found on the Ibadan Fan Expo social platforms as well as via the African Comic Conventions platform.

Ibadan Fan Expo is poised to become a staple in the city’s pop culture calendar