From recycled PET bottles to AI animation hub
Despite the environmental challenges inherent in their community, Ijora Badia, one of the slum communities in Lagos state, some teenagers have defied the odds to be part of history-a new
Despite the environmental challenges inherent in their community, Ijora Badia, one of the slum communities in Lagos state, some teenagers have defied the odds to be part of history-a new chapter in global storytelling with the recent launch of AI Animation factory by Founder, Slum Art and Animation Hub, Mr. Adetunwase Adenle.
The launch, a three-month live stress test designed to demonstrate, refine, and scale what is positioned to become the world’s first fully automated AI Television (AI TV) platform, was a live systems test of Africa’s creative future.
Each day, these children ages 10 to 15, gather round 10 laptops and a giant Television screen receiving instructions from facilitator on basic lessons in animation on shift basis. The hub was built from waste and engineered for scale.
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For 90 days, the studio will remain open to the public- investors, technologists, educators, creators, policymakers and media to experience firsthand how AI-powered storytelling is built from concept to broadcast.
Located in the heart of Ijora Badia, the facility is the first animation studio globally constructed using recycled PET bottles, transforming plastic waste into structural innovation and climate-conscious infrastructure.
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According to Adenle, by embedding circular economy principles into a high-performance AI production environment, the project proves that sustainability and advanced technology can grow together — not in opposition. He noted that Ijora Badia is no longer just a community, but a global node for AI-powered entertainment production.
“This opening marks the beginning of a structured 3-month stress test designed to validate infrastructure durability and energy sustainability, test real-time AI animation generation pipelines, measure production scalability under live conditions, refine collaborative AI storytelling workflows and prove economic sustainability beyond launch momentum,” he added.
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Adenle described the moment as a transition from vision to validation, saying “we are not asking the world to believe us. We are inviting the world to test us.”
The objective, he said, is to build a model that survives pressure, survives scale, and survives time.
Through Slum Art and Animation Hub, over 10,000 children across Lagos have already been trained in AI-assisted storytelling and animation during the pilot phase-validating youth adoption, operational feasibility and training scalability.
He stated that as global leaders such as The Walt Disney Company explore AI-driven narrative ecosystems, and companies like Open AI advance foundational large language models reshaping creative industries, Nigeria is building sovereign infrastructure to ensure African participation extends beyond talent supply to platform ownership.
The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) counterpart funding support since 2019 positions this initiative as a Flagship 2026 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project. According to Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at FCMB, Omoniyi Iyanda, the initiative reflects FCMB’s commitment to inclusive innovation, environmental responsibility, and long-term economic empowerment.
“By supporting AI infrastructure in underserved communities, we are investing in sustainable impact with global relevance. FCMB’s partnership signals a shift from charity-driven CSR to capability-driven nation building-accelerating AI literacy among Nigerians in 2026 and beyond,” he added.
This milestone would not exist without the support of World Connect, whose funding enabled the physical construction of the AI Animation Factory. World Connect’s investment demonstrates belief in a scalable model. Their backing transforms recycled plastic into opportunity.
