Lagos State supports 143 tourism and cultural events with ₦8.47bn, reinforcing its status as Africa’s creative capital

Lagos tourism events have received a major boost as the State Government disbursed ₦8.47 billion to support 143 arts, culture, and tourism-related initiatives in the past year.

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The disclosure came from the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, during the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja. The briefing forms part of activities marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s sixth year in office.

Benson-Awoyinka said the investment reflects the State’s unwavering commitment to positioning Lagos as Africa’s creative capital and enhancing its global cultural visibility.

“This investment reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s unwavering vision to build a resilient creative economy that empowers talents, preserves our rich heritage, and amplifies the global visibility of Lagos as a dynamic cultural capital,” she said.

She noted that the ₦8.47 billion covered support for local and international events spanning music, film, fashion, visual arts, theatre, and cultural tourism. The supported programmes have drawn both domestic and global audiences, generating employment and stimulating economic growth.

In addition to direct funding, the Ministry issued 124 endorsement letters to creative entrepreneurs and organisations, facilitating sponsorships and strategic partnerships.

The Commissioner affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to deepen private sector partnerships and stakeholder engagement. She highlighted plans to strengthen collaborative platforms to drive innovation and sustainability in the culture and tourism ecosystem.

“Lagos is open for partnerships that will sustainably transform it into a global beacon for the creative economy,” she added.

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With this significant funding and institutional support, Lagos is steadily advancing its goal of becoming a leading destination for culture, entertainment, and tourism in Africa.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.