The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has sought collaboration with private sector actors to develop home-grown festivals.
The commissioner made this known while receiving some visitors in her office at Alausa, Ikeja, during a series of courtesy visits aimed at fostering collaboration in the state’s creative and tourism sectors.
According to a statement shared on the government’s social media handle on Sunday, the commissioner received the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade; Nigerian actress and scriptwriter, Omoni Oboli, and the Managing Director of Trace Anglophone West Africa, Samuel Onyemelukwe.
Others were the Chief Executive Officer of Shakara Festival, Godson Oriaku, and his team, as well as the CEO of Jyraes Motion Pictures, Busola Komolafe, accompanied by her team.
While addressing the visitors, Benson-Awoyinka reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting and promoting the creative industry through strategic collaborations, interventions, and endorsements designed to enhance tourism activities across the state.
“The industry has truly grown, and we want it to continue to thrive. The Lagos State Government will keep creating an enabling environment for creatives to excel and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
“We have to create opportunities that attract investors and engage both locals and internationals. Beyond the popular ‘Detty December’ festivities, homegrown festivals must be developed through partnerships between the public and private sectors,” she stated.
The commissioner emphasised the need to project Lagos as a global cultural hub, noting that the state must sustain visibility on international platforms.
In September, the state government reaffirmed its commitment to position the state as Africa’s premier tourism destination through an initiative tagged “101 Days in Lagos.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, said at the ministry’s conference room in Lagos that the initiative was “designed to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage, empower young people, and create a vibrant entertainment and sports ecosystem that would attract both local and international visitors.”
