THE Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has unveiled plans to hold a 72-hour #Greater Lagos Fiesta beginning from December 29, 2023, to the early hours of January 1, 2024.
The three-day end-of-the-year event is anticipated to have participants of over 25,000 who will be thrilled with different types of entertainment, including cultural performances and children’s corners, amongst others.
The State Commissioner for Tourism, Art, and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who made this known at a news conference in Ikeja said that the Ministry will use the annual end-of-the-year event to also market its beach potential.
According to her, the grand finale, which was usually held at Eko Atlantic City would be held at Sol Beach in Iru-land as a way of exposing the State’s rich beachfront potential to fun lovers and tourists.
She added that interested participants who still want to join the countdown event at the Eko Atlantic City venue would be provided with a large viewing screen where the activities at the Sol Beach would be transmitted live, in addition to a dedicated channel on DSTV that would stream the event activities throughout the three days.
The Commissioner, alongside the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr Idris Aregbe, and Permanent Secretary, Mrs Oloruntoyin Atekoja, also assured participants of adequate security at all the designated venues of the countdown event.
She said: “The Lagos Countdown 2024, #Greater Lagos Fiesta, has become an annual tradition, a celebration of music, entertainment, and the vibrant spirit of Lagos. This year, we are taking the event to a whole new level with three days of non-stop excitement from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024.
“We are intentional in our focus of deliberately positioning Lagos State to favourably compete with developed cities of the world in terms of hosting tourism and entertainment events.
“We have put a lot in place for security; we are working actively with all security apparatus of the state, the Nigeria Police, DSS, Civil Defence, LASTM and Neighbourhood Watch, among other security operators in the state.
While noting that the annual fiesta has over the years proven to be a very engaging and mind-blowing event, providing fun activities and entertainment for Lagosians in their various localities across the five IBILE divisions of the state, the Commissioner maintained that the event is beyond just a musical show or fun event.
She affirmed that the three-day event, apart from showcasing the cultural activities and nurturing up-coming talented youngsters in the entertainment and creative industry, will also positively impact the State’s economy through massive sales of goods and services to thousands of fun and entertainment lovers throughout the event.
She listed the venues of the event to include Badagry Grammar School in Badagry, Agege Stadium, Agege, Ikorodu Town Hall Ikorodu, Sol Beach Oniru, and Epe Recreational Centre, Epe.
“We have lined up an incredible array of music stars who will grace the stage and thrill all fun lovers from Badagry to Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Ikeja, featuring homegrown talents to international sensations, the best of Afro Beats, Highlife, Juju and Fuji’’, the Commissioner stated.
Toke Benson-Awoyinka also revealed that interested corporate sponsors ready to collaborate with the State Government to make the event a success are welcomed.
