In a move to deepen regional collaboration and bolster the creative and tourism industries across West Africa, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on Friday hosted a high-level delegation from the Ghana Creative Arts Agency at the ministry’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
During the visit, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described the engagement as a strategic opportunity for knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and sustainable growth in the creative sector.
“Lagos does not compete. We create and collaborate,” the Commissioner said. “It is a pleasure to host our brothers and sisters from Ghana. This engagement is about synergy, shared learning, and laying a foundation for cross-border support systems that benefit creatives throughout the region.”
Highlighting Lagos’ prominent role as a cultural and creative leader in Africa, Benson-Awoyinka reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to developing a comprehensive, year-round calendar of tourism and cultural events. She noted that consistent programming would further position Lagos as a premier destination for arts, culture, and tourism.
She also emphasised the economic potential of the creative sector, describing it as a formal industry capable of significantly boosting the local economy when properly harnessed. “Creativity is a vast industry, and everyone has a role to play in its advancement,” she added.
Benson-Awoyinka pledged the ministry’s full support for the upcoming Speed Boat Racing and Creative Summit, scheduled for October 2025, describing it as an innovative platform to showcase Lagos’ waterfront culture and diverse creative talents. She further underscored the importance of institutional support, sustainable public-private funding, and youth empowerment across all creative disciplines.
Speaking during the visit, the Director of Creative Arts at the ministry, Mrs. Bisi Omojare, provided insights into the ministry’s operational framework, which encourages creatives—from architecture to comedy—to register with the ministry. This system enables them to benefit from endorsements and receive government support for both local and international events.
Leading the Ghanaian delegation, Acting Executive Secretary of the Ghana Creative Arts Agency, Mr. Gideon Aryeequaye, expressed admiration for Lagos’ structured approach to cultural development and affirmed Ghana’s commitment to building similar frameworks.
“We’ve always admired Lagos from afar, and this visit has confirmed why you are regarded as a big sister in the creative space,” Aryeequaye said. “Our purpose here is to learn, collaborate, and grow together.”
Commenting on the transformation of Ghana’s Creative Arts Agency following national reforms in 2020, Aryeequaye proposed future immersive exchanges, joint talent showcases, and collaborative media projects aimed at promoting Afrocentric ownership of creative assets and resisting cultural dilution between the two organisations.
Adeoti Sobowale
Deputy Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
26th April, 2025
