Lola Shoneyin

Lola Shoneyin is a Nigerian poet, novelist, and children’s author committed to nurturing the next generation of readers and storytellers. Through her work in classrooms, workshops, and national training programmes, she has worked with numerous aspiring writers, equipping them with the tools to craft stories that are imaginative, relevant, and grounded in local realities.

She is the author of ten children’s books: Mayowa and the Masquerades, Tunde Onakoya: The Chess Champion, Iyaji, the Housegirl, A Durbar for Hussain and Hassana, Jamila’s Clever Plan, Do As You Are Told Baji, Dunoma the Brave, Setto Saves the Trees, Anyibo and the Mother Hen, and Pwada Can Do Anything. Her stories centre Nigerian childhood with warmth, humour, and depth, making them accessible and appealing to both local and global audiences.

Shoneyin is also the founder of Ouida Books and Book Buzz Foundation, where she collaborates with illustrators, editors, and writers to produce high-quality children’s literature and expand access to books. She is the director of the Aké Arts and Book Festival, and she works with a wide network of writers, illustrators, and cultural practitioners across Africa and beyond. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, education, and cultural development.