In 2024, when The African Comics and Cinematic Empire (TheACE) was still in its infancy, we embarked on what would become one of our most defining editorial undertakings: collating what was arguably the first structured industry report on Nigeria’s comic book space. With encouragement from industry figures such as Erivic of Comic Con Ibadan and Ray of Bookause, the project gained traction and, more importantly, acceptance within the local creative community.

One of the most debated sections of that report was our list of 10 Nigerian creators to watch in 2025. It demanded not just admiration, but analysis, weighing output, consistency, cultural relevance, and long-term trajectory.

A year later, we revisit that list to assess how those predictions held up.

John Uche

At the top of the list was John Uche, identified early on as a rising storyteller with global appeal. In 2024, his series Celestial Eyes: The First Cycle, published by TheMachine, introduced readers to Onwanuju, an occult detective with a mysterious blue moon eye, and her partner Odi Maria. The series’ blend of Nigerian cultural elements and universal genre storytelling earned it a place among Global Comix’s Top 10 Most Popular Fantasy Comics of 2024.

In 2025, Uche’s momentum intensified. He won Comic Con Ibadan’s Writer of the Year award, while Celestial Eyes secured Comic Book of the Year at the same event. He placed second for Creator of the Year at the inaugural Bookause Comic Industry Impact (BCII) Awards, and the title went on to win Best Graphic Novel at the Nommo Awards, cementing its status beyond local acclaim.

Alaba Onajin

Though operating largely outside the traditional comic book ecosystem, Alaba Onajin’s inclusion was deliberate. An accomplished children’s book illustrator and comic artist, Onajin trained at Morris College of Journalism and later Central Saint Martins, College of Art and Design. His portfolio includes Anike Eleko, which advocates for girls’ education, and Waaa Waaa Goes Tawa, a sensitive exploration of childhood tantrums. He has also collaborated with UNESCO on projects highlighting African women in history.

In July 2025, Onajin published his second picture book, Oh No, Ojo, through Random House Studios. Describing it as both autobiographical and instructional, he framed it as a resource for parents and educators navigating children’s creative curiosity. He later announced Koroba: The Case of the Missing Kolo, scheduled for publication by Holiday House in February 2026.

Olusegun Babawale

Founder of Comic Arena, Olusegun Babawale continues to champion originality in Nigerian comic storytelling. A writer and letterer, a role often overlooked in the comic creation process, Babawale’s work emphasizes imagination and narrative clarity. His 2024 release, Fusion: The Awakening, surpassed 1,000 reads and resonated with a growing international audience.

When contacted in 2025, Babawale confirmed that he and his founding team remain focused on expanding Comic Arena, while choosing to keep certain developments confidential at the time of reporting.

Alexander Esene

By 2025, Alexander Esene had become the benchmark for comic book artistry in Nigeria. A digital illustrator known for fusing African heritage with modern visual language, Esene’s work with Comic Republic includes Aje, Ireti, Vanguards, and Chibok.

He achieved a historic three-year streak, winning Comic Book Artist of the Year at Comic Con Ibadan in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He also claimed the 2025 BCII Creator of the Year award, edging out strong contenders across the industry. In conversation, Esene emphasized discipline, craft improvement, and his commitment to strengthening Comic Republic’s creative output.

Jackson Godwin

Popularly known as ArtGodwinKing, Jackson Godwin occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s comics and animation ecosystem. Through consistent reviews, critiques, and commentary, he has become a trusted industry voice, often likened to a transfer-market journalist for creatives. We can say that Godwin is to Nigerian creativies what Fabrizio Romano is to world football.

In 2025, he won Influencer of the Year at both the Nigerian Creatives Excellence (NICE) Awards and the BCII Awards. That same year, he founded the Nigerian Animation and Comics Army (NACA), an initiative aimed at training creatives from underserved communities and strengthening the country’s animation workforce pipeline.

Jonathan Esemjay

Professionally known as Sanni Jonathan or Esemjay, this animator and illustrator began his career at Spoof! Animation before contributing to projects at Vortex Corp and Comic Republic. His work on Ireti Bidemi Issue #7 earned him Comic Illustrator of the Year at Comic Con Ibadan 2024.

That same year, he led the #01sketchaday challenge, producing 366 artworks over the course of the year and inspiring a new wave of daily practice among Nigerian artists. While much of his 2025 work remained unreleased at the time of writing, he continued working within Comic Republic’s animation arm, CR Motion+.

Sunkanmi Akinboye

A martial artist, illustrator, and creative director of Linebug Studios, Sunkanmi Akinboye balances physical discipline with visual storytelling. His collaborations with YouNeek Studios include E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams and Malika, as well as contributions to Whoopi Goldberg’s The Change.

In 2025, Akinboye continued work on the fourth volume of Iyanu: Child of Wonder and released Kasan Rana: The Uprising under Linebug Studios, a graphic novel that marked a stylistic departure from his earlier work.

Confidence Elochukwu

Writer and on-air personality Confidence Elochukwu has emerged as a vital narrative voice in Nigeria’s comic space. Her contribution to a 2024 release, MMANWU: Spirits Amongst Us, was widely praised for its integration of Igbo cosmology into a contemporary good-versus-evil framework.

In 2025, she continued into multiple creative ventures beyond comics and received a nomination for Emerging Creator of the Year at Comic Con Ibadan Awards 2025.

Adepitan Omotayo Emmanuel

Also known as EOA Art, Adepitan Emmanuel is a storyteller and co-host of The Mindful Artist Toolbox Podcast. His work spans comics, children’s media, and art-driven social commentary. The Legacy (2024) stands out as a collaborative project addressing social and environmental themes.

In 2025, he released Failed Mission, an art book published in collaboration with TheMachine to mark his birthday, reinforcing his commitment to art as activism.

Owoade Ifeoluwa

Owoade Ifeoluwa Victor has continued to build a reputation for technical excellence and narrative depth. His contributions include Renegades, Transhum+n: Lost Boy, Selaf: The Buried Seeds, and This Side Up, which ranked among Global Comix’s Top 10 Thriller Comics of 2024. MMANWU: Spirits Amongst Us also won Comic Book of the Year at Comic Con Ibadan 2024.

In 2025, he released Hounds and Jackals with Symphonii Studios and co-hosts The FourthWall Crew, a platform for in-depth discussions on comics and film.

Closing

Collectively, these creators reflect a Nigerian comics industry in active transformation; one grounded in cultural specificity while reaching for global relevance. Their work, insights, and trajectories also inform the upcoming edition of the Annual Bookause Nigerian Comic Industry Report.

Which creator or artist would you have added to the list? Let us know.

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AI Use at TheACE
TheACE uses artificial intelligence tools to support research, drafting and analysis across Africa’s creative industries. All content is verified, edited and approved by our human editorial team to ensure accuracy, clarity and responsible storytelling. AI assists our work; it does not replace human judgment.