The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering cultural development through strategic collaborations with both local and international stakeholders.
This was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, during a courtesy visit by the Co-founder and Managing Director of IGA Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbolahan Ajala, who also serves as a heritage consultant to the state government.
Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka, who warmly welcomed the visiting delegation, acknowledged the alignment between the ministry’s ongoing initiatives and the vision of the visiting team.
She said, “As a government, we place a high premium on culture and heritage. Our ongoing projects, including the construction and transformation of theatres into cinemas and the establishment of youth engagement centres, reflect our strong dedication to the sector. We are open to sponsorships, endorsements, and properly documented proposals that promote cultural growth.”
The commissioner also highlighted government-backed programmes such as talent hunts and creative capacity-building initiatives like the Lagos Creative Initiatives (LACI), all aimed at nurturing young creative talents across the state. She expressed enthusiasm about potential collaborations in areas such as museums, archives, and cultural exhibitions.
In her remarks, Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka expressed interest in festival partnerships that could advance the development of the cultural and creative industry both locally and internationally.
The meeting, held at the ministry’s conference room in Alausa, also had in attendance the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, who expressed strong support for the proposed partnerships.
He emphasised the ministry’s dedication to leveraging such collaborations to further position Lagos as a premier cultural and creative hub.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Nadine Siegert, Director of the Goethe-Institut Nigeria and President of the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) Nigeria Cluster, expressed eagerness to collaborate with Lagos State.
“We are very keen on working more closely with Lagos-based artists and cultural institutions. Cultural heritage, museums, and archives are some of our key focus areas,” she noted while highlighting the importance of collaborating with both federal and state-level agencies.
Miss Toluwanimi Owolana, Cluster Coordinator for the Africa-Europe Partnership for Culture, introduced a European Union-funded project that supports festival producers across six West African countries, including Nigeria. “Lagos holds a central position in this initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with the ministry to drive this project forward,” she said.
Also present during the courtesy visit was Miss Tolulope Ami-Williams, Project Coordinator for the Claiming the Future initiative, who spoke on an upcoming community-based mural and performance exhibition slated for six locations across Lagos, including Badagry, Makoko, and Bariga.
“Our initiative works with young artists, mentors, and host institutions to creatively engage local communities. We are hopeful of receiving the ministry’s formal backing to navigate necessary approvals and ensure the success of this project,” she stated.
