Princess Akpu transforms children’s talent at shine festival, Enugu 2025
By Editor
THE literary and creative scene in Enugu received a spectacular boost as the annual Shine Nigeria Kindle Kids Talent Festival illuminated the city on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Held at the picturesque Seven Palms Garden inside the New Trade Fair Complex, Golf Estate, Enugu, the event, organized by renowned author and educator Princess Sarah Akpu, was a vibrant display of youthful potential, confirming its place as a groundbreaking platform for children’s talent in Enugu State.
The event turned out a kaleidoscope of creativity and competition. The festival was host to an enthusiastic crowd of over 100 children and their supportive parents, transforming the venue into a spotlight of many colours. Far more than a simple gathering, the Shine Nigeria Kindle Kids Talent Festival showcased a variety of high-stakes, yet fun, creative challenges, including Dramatic Storytelling Competitions, Literary Quizzes and Riddles Challenges amongst competing schools, Spoken Word Challenges that amplified young voices and Talent Showcases and Modelling segments. The atmosphere was electrifying, but the clear highlight of the day was a history-making moment for Enugu’s literary community.
History was made as six young authors launched their new books at the festival. The climax of the festival was the official book launch for six talented child authors who presented their debut literary works to the world. These young writers, aged between six and 11, are all dedicated members of the Kindle Children’s Creativity Clubhouse located at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Independence Layout, Enugu.
The book launch was a significant milestone that marked the first-ever event of its kind in Enugu State, where such a large group of young authors simultaneously published and presented their works. The sight of the children signing copies of their own books, supported by their beaming parents, underscored the effectiveness and unique mission of clubhouse initiative.
The vision of a literary leader as the festival’s convener and award-winning author of over 35 books including her own children’s titles like Lost Christmas, Bole Island, Lily and The Secret Garden, etc, Princess Sarah Akpu, shone throughout. As founder of Kindle Children’s Creativity Clubhouse, Princess Akpu shared the profound inspiration behind the event, when she said, “My passion comes from my experience as a talented child growing up in Nigeria. I truly believe every child deserves a platform to explore their God-given talent, to be seen, and to be heard. The Shine Festival is our way of building the stage where their creative dreams can become reality.”
Princess Akpu’s dual role as a prolific author and an educational leader, exemplified by the success of her students, establishes her as a driving force in Nigerian children’s literature and development.
The positive impact of the festival resonated strongly with all attendees, prompting a call for community and government’s support in early child development. Parents and teachers were effusive in their praise, noting the professional, organised, and empowering manner the entire festival was conducted in a most convivial atmosphere.
At the close of the event, there was a collective call on the state government to officially recognize and support such creative talent initiatives. The message was clear: Enugu children are brimming with potential, and platforms like the Shine Nigeria Kindle Kids Talent Festival are essential investments in the future intellectual capital of the state.
The success of Shine Nigeria Kindle Kids Talent Festival 2025 firmly establishes it as a calendar highlight for children’s talent development, making the convener Princess Akpu not just an author, but a transformative leader who is ensuring that Enugu’s youngest stars truly shine.
