The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has spotlighted the Lagos Creative Vault as a groundbreaking initiative poised to redefine Nigeria’s creative economy.
She described it as a visionary platform designed to serve as a digital archive, talent accelerator, and gateway to global opportunities for creatives in the state.
She made this known on Wednesday during the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the sixth anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Alausa, Ikeja.
Highlighting the State Government’s commitment to empowering the creative sector, the Commissioner explained that the Lagos Creative Vault—curated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Mr. Idris Aregbe—has been strategically developed to offer structured access to funding, training, mentorship, and international collaborations.
“The Vault is a game-changer,” the Commissioner said. “It is a dynamic digital hub where filmmakers, animators, musicians, writers, and visual artists from Lagos can showcase their work, gain visibility, and connect with partners and investors both locally and globally. Through this initiative, Lagos is building a future where talent meets opportunity and creativity drives inclusive economic growth.”
According to her, the Vault reflects the Ministry’s long-term vision to professionalise the creative industry, promote cultural heritage, and attract foreign investment by establishing a well-organised system that connects stakeholders across the value chain.
She further emphasised that the Vault is not merely a repository, but a matchmaking platform—enabling creatives to access grants, residencies, and licensing deals for their content—laying the foundation for a sustainable and monetisable creative economy.
In a related development, the Commissioner revealed that the Ministry, through the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, issued over 1,100 film permits in the last 12 months to independent movie producers. These permits supported documentaries, feature films, commercials, and short films, reflecting a robust and dynamic film ecosystem in the state.
On the international front, the Commissioner celebrated the selection of My Father’s Shadow for screening at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival as a significant milestone for both Lagos and Nigeria.
“This is global recognition of our storytelling prowess and cultural strength. It affirms that Nigerian content is not only locally relevant but also globally compelling,” she remarked.
She also lauded the recent endorsement of Funke Akindele’s film Everybody Loves Jenifa by the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, describing it as a step toward institutional support for high-quality, homegrown narratives.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to youth empowerment, the Commissioner cited the Skill-Up Lagos initiative, where 50 youths were trained in indigenous raffia basket weaving, as well as the Guinness World Record attempt by Fola David for the world’s longest drawing, as inspiring testaments to Lagos’s creativity and resilience.
“Lagos is not just a city of dreams; it is a city where creativity is nurtured, talent is empowered, and the arts are given the space to flourish,” Benson-Awoyinka concluded.
