In a forthnight, Lagos will reaffirm its reputation as the heart-beat of West African arts, culture and tourism with the unveiling of series of major events that are in sync with Governor Sanwo Olu administration's T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda.
From Mainland to Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lagos Island, the city's galleries and cultural spaces will host shows that make Lagos the city that never sleeps....welcome to '101 Days in Lagos' beginning from September 26 to January 4. It is poised to revolutionize the tourism landscape, catapulting Lagos into the spotlight as the ultimate destination for cultural and entertainment seekers, and sports enthusiasts alike.
This initiative, according to the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, will make Lagos the temporary epicentre of Africa during these days.
Aregbe disclosed that the state government was collaborating with stakeholders in the fashion, food, lifestyle, film, restaurant, music sectors, to position Lagos as a city that is economical viable all year-round, through the '101 Days in Lagos', initiative.
The initiative, he explained, takes a deeper look at activities in the state from September 26 to January 4 and collate them to enable residents and visitors to plan their movements, especially during the ember period.
Aregbe, who spoke at an interactive session with Arts Writers in Lagos recently, said that as a state government, the overall concern was to provide enabling environment as well as supports for groups or individuals that add value to the ecosystem. He noted that 'the state cannot continue to do everything.' 'We are not competing with individuals, businesses, brands. The most important thing is to see how we can continue to complement the efforts of brands and other stakeholders.'
"We are putting all these events together in a box to unveil. As the ember months approach, a lot of people are beginning to talk of Detty December, but it is beyond that, regarding activities going on in the city around that time. But, our aim is to emphasise that Lagos is beyond this. It is a city that never sleeps. From January to December we have a couple of activities going on. That is the Lagos we are projecting," he added.
He stressed that the state government was ready to support such stakeholders in showcasing their offerings and positioning the state as investment hub. He disclosed that another of the state government's initiative aimed at repositioning the state as an epicentre of rich cultural heritage was the planned Cultural Weekend, scheduled for November 14 to16, this year.
"And again we are not just looking at tourism, arts, and culture from the angle of events. All these events must have local impact. We must be able to grow the local economy.
"So for us, it's not just an event, it's something that we have designed to let people know that truly Lagos has a fantastic culture and that we will exhibit those cultures during that event," he said. Acknowledging the challenge of lack of reliable tourism data, which hinders effective planning and investment, he assured that Lagos State is working on building reliable database and master plans to address the gap, stressing that sustainable progress requires credible data-driven decisions. He hinted that efforts are being made to revitalise waterfront tourism and leverage Lagos' unique natural resources such as water. According to him, international events and summits focusing on water-based tourism and sports are underway to capitalise on these assets, signaling government passion and commitment to diverse tourism segments.
While soliciting the support of the media, he enjoined them to continue to 'tell our stories in the way that we really want it, so that people will be able to understand our identity.'
According to Aregbe, one other programme the state has designed for the last quarter of the year is a 60-day pilot test of Lagos State Tourism Support Services, which will be a one-stop event within the hospitality industry.