THE Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised that the state will be extending its warmest hospitality to visitors as Nigeria is set to host the maiden United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries at the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, between November 14 and 16, 2022.
The Governor made this pledge on Thursday, July 21, 2022, when he received the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on a courtesy visit at the State House in Marina.
While speaking during the courtesy visit, Mr Sanwo-Olu gave assurance of Lagos’ readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to use the event to create a lasting positive impression on the country.
He further disclosed that November would be a month of cultural and tourism fiesta in Lagos as the state will also host the National Festival of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and commission the J.K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in the same month.
Sanwo-Olu said: “The month of November has been christened the month for arts and culture in Lagos. We will be witnessing a huge influx of people from the Diaspora to participate in all the cultural and art activities that will be taking place in the period. Lagos will be hosting NAFEST and we are unveiling an art museum, which will be about the biggest in Africa.
"The UNWTO global conference will be the crescendo of the whole event. We will be using the opportunity to showcase some of our best in the class of arts and also project parts of the country not seen before.
“This is part of ensuring that we utilise what we have not only for the development of our State and the country but also to give our teeming youths opportunities to flourish, using their God-given talents. The entertainment and tourism industry is seen as a rallying point for a great number of the youth who continue to display their talents in arts, culture, music, technology and all the spaces they have excelled. We are turning around things in this sector to ensure our country remains the destination for the best talents in entertainment and tourism.”
The Governor said he was excited at the opportunities the cultural fairs would be giving residents to project their heritage and contribute their quota towards advancing culture and civilisation.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state government’s commitment to rehabilitating the National Arts Theatre, which is currently undergoing massive regeneration and upgrades.
