The Nigerian Travel Award: Lagos as a model for tourism growth in Nigeria Says Steve Ayorinde
The Nigerian Travel awards organized by Jumia Travels which held recently in Lagos at Jupiter Hall Four Point by Sheraton was another occasion by the
The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism Art and Culture Lagos State Mr Steve Ayorinde’s keynote address was delivered by his representative the Director, Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture, Mrs Saidat Olaitan Otulana. The keynote reads thus;
I am delighted to be in your midst today at this auspicious occasion,
Before I go further, please permit me to first express my sincere appreciation to the management of Jumia Travel for this privilege to deliver the Keynote Address at this year’s ceremony. It is indeed a great
Let me also on behalf of the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
It is my belief that this laudable effort will further celebrate committed professionals and create ample opportunities for all stakeholders, not only in the travel industry but across the tourism ecosystem.
My
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), over the decades, tourism worldwide has experienced continuous growth and deepened diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. These dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver for
Today, it is said that one out of every 10 jobs being created is tourism-related and the business volume in the larger tourism and cultural arts sectors arguably equals and is threatening to surpass that of oil exports, agriculture or automobiles.
Tourism has
state as a safe and welcoming destination for visitors; of creating
opportunities for different levels of stakeholders and to further develop the sector as a thriving and profitable venture for both investors and stakeholders on the one hand and government as regulators and enablers on the other hand.
For us at the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, therefore, all we have done in almost four years is to commit to the governor’s growth agenda on the creative economy through what he called “Project T.H.E.S.E” which stands for Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sports for Excellence.
It is a known fact that the agenda, which informed the deliberate investment in human capital and infrastructure with remarkable impact on the creative industry, has lived up to its promise in the last three and half years.
It should be noted that this strategic intervention did not happen by accident, it has been a deliberate plan derived from a visionary study of the State, its demography and analysis of the creative sector which has the capacity to absorb the teeming youth population, reduce poverty and crime
as well as create jobs with multiplier effects on other sectors.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it may interest you all to note that the last three and half years in the state have been eventful in terms of tourism infrastructure development as well as arts and cultural promotion, which we believe will lay the long term foundation to make Lagos State a sustainable
In Lagos as you know, we relish in saying ‘Eko For Show’ but at the ministry, we see Travel and Tourism beyond the show part. We equally focus on the business and entrepreneurial component of it. We see, and we do our best to create enormous opportunities for stakeholders to further harness the tremendous economic and socio-cultural benefits of marketing a 21-million city-state and one of Africa’s Top 10 economies to domestic,
regional and international visitors.
Prior to the emergence of the present administration, you will recall that Tourism co-habited with Inter-governmental Relations, almost as a mere until However, a full-fledge Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture came in
Between June 2015 and now, our goal of making Lagos State the
Board for the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture to advise and assist in repositioning the culture and artistic image of the state and we executed in phases the most defining attempt in our country to beautify a state’s landscape with public art installations through indigenous artistes. And so, the new Lagos experience that is arty and chic has been created and is being enhanced daily as we continue to facilitate an enduring infrastructural and security architecture for the business of tourism and cultural arts to thrive and for local talents in every part of the state to feel a sense of belonging and encouragement.
An example of a major infrastructure with
You will also agree with me that the need to prepare Lagos State
This is why the Administration of Governor Ambode in its resolve to leave a legacy of solid tourism-driven economy conceived the idea of a tourism master plan, the first of its kind by any state in Nigeria, as a blueprint document that will drive development and investment for the next 15 to 20 years in the tourism sector.
To make this happen, our government first hosted in April 2018 the Lagos State Tourism Summit to bring under one roof, various stakeholders in order to engage them and receive their thoughts and submissions on the direction that tourism should take in our dear state. It is this approach that has enriched the Lagos Tourism Masterplan, which is undoubtedly a legacy document that this administration shall bequeath to the
Suffice it to say that the tourism masterplan is undoubtedly the needed
Significantly too, another key legacy initiative that will be bequeathed to the
Yes, a masterplan and promotions council do matter for tourism
development in line with global best practices. But the in-coming
government and indeed millions of Lagosians and residents will see value in and continue to enjoy and appreciate the enormous tourism and cultural arts infrastructure that this administration has either directly initiated and constructed or those that it met on ground and improved upon. They are undoubtedly the gems that have continued to draw attention to Lagos as a megacity of arts and ideas and as a model for others to emulate.
The Freedom Park on Broad Street has been a shining example of a Public-Private Sector arrangement that works seven years running. So also is the Amusement Park, which with the plan to create access through waterways will definitely rise in value and patronage.
With Badagry as
as captured in the Tourism Masterplan.
Given that the affluent Lagos Island division has always welcomed more visitors, the Onikan-Marina axis has received much from this government.
In addition, as part of the concerted efforts geared towards encouraging tourism-driven initiatives and promote Lagos as a top destination that offers
Needless to say that these events always provide a platform for airlines, hotels and restaurants, tour operators, travel agents, tourism boards foreign trade missions, tourism sector travel professionals, the media and
The influx of actors, filmmakers, musicians
Participants at the end of the several events that we have actively
supported or partnered with were always taken on a tour of Lagos and benefited from the compelling narratives about the history, people and the positive development across the State.
Furthermore, in demonstration of the genuine commitment of the state government to tourism development and garner visibility for
entertainment events from January to December across the state and to make event planning, tour bookings
Suffice it to say as a leader and lover of the arts, His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State has personally championed the promotion and preservation of our cultural and heritage sites. This is what informed the recently organized stakeholders’ forum on
put in place, Lagos will continue to thrive and is not far from being one of the top 5 preferred tourist destinations in Africa.
Significantly too, our state has continued to erect new and maintain
placed on the sustenance of the cultural and historical heritage of the people of Lagos State so as to attract tourists. Some of the monuments that depict these and received
The State Government’s effort at preserving cultural heritage of the people of Lagos State and its enormous historical values also received a boost with a grant of $600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Dollars) from Ford Foundation towards the architectural design of the proposed Lagos Museum to be sited at the Onikan-Marina arts district just like the ongoing
redevelopment of the J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba History and Culture within the same zone.
This project which is due for completion soon is the reason Lagos State has formally written the British Museum for the release of the historic Lander Stool, a sculptural work that is believed to have been taken out of Nigeria in 1863 and is presently in storage at the British Museum in London. When completed, the J.K Randle Centre will compliment other facilities like the National Museum, the MUSON Centre, Freedom Park, City Mall, Tafawa Balewa Square and the Yoruba Tennis Club that have made this area a culturally significant part of Lagos state.
Yet, the culture infrastructure investments of this administration will not be complete without mentioning the ongoing construction of Six Eko Theatres across the state. It is a project conceived by this administration to encourage creativity and create more spaces for theatrical and musical productions and offer platforms for upcoming artistes across
and Epe
The One Lagos Fiesta has indeed become a key show-stopper just like Gidi Culture Fest; Art X; African Film Festival (AFRIFF), the Lagos Theatre Festival, iRep Documentary Film Festival, Lagos Arts and Books Festival and the Dance Gathering among others which have continued to provide the rich staple for the Lagos tourism menu.
As the birthplace of Nollywood and home to Arrive at, it is because successive governments in Lagos, particularly in the last 20 years have not dropped the ball in tourism promotion that the global attention has continued to be on Lagos.
This is the reason Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg found it convenient to jog on our iconic Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge and declare support for the film industry that Lagos has blessed Nigeria with when he addressed practitioners at Afronolly premises in
It is for this reason of cultural renaissance that Lagos is championing that made President Emmanuel Macron of France find the new Afrikan Shrine an ideal location for a cultural reception. And it is for the reason of strong cultural identity that Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain in Lagos would wear a Lagos-made African print and enthuse about the rich cultural diversity and talent inherent in the state. Ditto for Prince Charles who would declare in pidgin during his visit to Lagos last year that, “Naija no dey carry last!
And it is for this reason; I wish to state that when it comes to matters of tourism, travels and the hospitality industry and in using art and cultural content to drive growth in the sector, Lagos State Government no dey carry last.
I thank you all for your kind attention and wish you all a beautiful ceremony.
Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Lo Jewa Logun.
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