Lagos government launches initiative to boost GDP, tourism, details

• The Lagos State Government has re-invigorated efforts to increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through several measures
• The last of them is the introduction of a cultural initiative aimed at popularizing the cultural heritage of the state
• Idris Aregbe, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, gave further explanation on the initiative

The Lagos State the government unveiled what it called the Lagos Cultural Mission Initiative to showcase its cultural heritage to the world and foster partnerships with countries around the world.

Idris Aregbe, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, spoke at the launch of the initiative at the Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, Lagos on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

Entitled “Expanding the Essence of Culture”, the event featured art exhibitions, cultural performances and a demonstration of traditional dishes, attended by representatives from more than 20 embassies.

Why Lagos Cultural Mission Initiative?

At the event, Aregbe said, through the initiative, the government also aimed to stimulate year-round visits to Lagos by local and foreign tourists and increase buying and selling between tourists and their hosts.

He noted that the vision of the initiative is to make Lagos a hub of culture for Africawhere joint festivals, educational exchanges and tourism promotions will be identified.

He said:

“We use this mission to promote international cooperation and develop cultural diplomacy between Lagos and other countries.

“Through this mission, we are creating strong cultural partnerships that will not only benefit Lagos, but also build bridges and foster mutual respect and cooperation with our international friends. Together, we are developing culture and elevating Lagos as a global meeting point for creativity and communication.”

According to Aregbe, as part of the initiative, the youth will have a platform to communicate with the elders, learn about the cultural heritage of the state to prevent its extinction.

He described it as a journey to explore, discover and celebrate the beauty of the state to boost investor confidence in the commercial nerve centre.

He added:

“We need to tell our story, sit down and learn more about our values. We came up with this Lagos cultural mission and what we intend to do is to tell our story and make sure we appeal to Lagos lovers. .

“Let’s see how we can help each other, let’s see how we can serve more youth on the streets. We have a lot of people waiting to add value to Lagos, we want to continue to give them a platform.”

Earlier, Nike Arts Gallery founder Nike Okundai-Davis appealed to the Home Affairs Minister to ease entry visas for tourists, saying it would encourage more visitors Nigeria.

“We want the minister to make it easier to get visas for those who want to invest. It’s hard to get a Nigerian visa, we need to solve that.”

Lagos is becoming a global tourist destination

In the author’s previous report Legit.ngAregbe said the objective of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government is to make Lagos State a top 10 a global tourist destination.

He added that this vision is part of the state’s broader THEMES+ agenda, showcasing the city’s vibrant culture, growth and unique shared experiences.

Source: Legit.ng