George Okojie
Although the transformational leadership of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has impacted greatly on all sectors of the state, it is worthy to note that the governor whose first term agenda was anchored on T.H.E.M.E.S agenda has given priority attention to the Tourism and Entertainment sector which are major cardinals in his THEMES Plus developmental agenda.
In barely five years in office, here are some of the actions
Governor Sanwo-Olu's administration has taken to make Lagos state viable as far
as tourism, entertainment, art and culture as the ecosystem is concerned.
His ultimate goal is to drive tourism, create employment and
increase the contribution of the non-oil sector to the state's gross domestic
product.
To demonstrate his administration's commitment to the
entertainment sector, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu turned the sod on the $100
million African Film City project in Epe, Lagos State.
The project, which was designed to empower creative talts,
build capacity and double financial and training support for the sector, was
stemmed out of the state tourism master plan under his THEMES Agenda. The
masterplan was then rigorously driven by Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf when she
led the Ministry of Tourism Art and Culture.
The Film City proposed to be constructed on 100 hectares of
land will create more opportunities for skill development in modern filmmaking,
increase grants for short stories as well as put Lagos on the global filmmaking
map.
This massive infrastructure and multi-million dollar project
to be built in partnership with the Del-York Group, upon completion, is
expected to become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of creative ideas not just for
Nigerians but also for the entire continent. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
through this project is encouraging stakeholders in the film production to tell
our stories to the world.
The masterplan, driven by the Lagos Tourism Policy, aims to
harness and develop the state’s tourism resources into different products of
attraction for both in-bound and out-bound tourists; unleash Lagos tourism to
the world through aggressive digital marketing and promotion; stimulate and
encouraging creative arts industry, to support and encourage the development of
tourism initiatives at the local communities.
Under Governor Sanwo-Olu, some areas of tourism activities
that were hitherto not given attention have now been captured in the masterplan
and this will engender all-round development of every aspect of tourism in the
coming years.
With the tourism masterplan, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has
shown his determination to cover all aspects of tourism in the state, which
would be for a greater Lagos.
Interestingly, one of the promises Governor Sanwo-Olu made
was to complete the projects relating to tourism started by his predecessor. He
set for work by establishing the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiatives,
LACI. The idea behind the establishment of LACI is to further reposition the
creative sector in line with the goals of his administration to develop phases
of tourism in the state to its optimal potentials and showcase the state to the
world while addressing skills deficiency in the creative industry.
The LACI vision is to use the state’s rich, natural
resources and diverse cultural heritage to promote the sustainable development
of creative space as a viable sector of the economy in a manner that enhances,
promotes and preserves the richness, quality and unique features of Lagos. The
initiative aims to spotlight Lagos by bringing together creative talents that
will expand the scope of opportunities inherent in both tourism and the
creative industries.
With LACI, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture under
the watchful eyes of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu partnered with two private
firms; the EbonyLife Academy and Del-York Creative Academy to groom the next
set of professionals in the creative space.
Ebonylife, took about 480 creative participants in the
quarterly physical classroom while Del-York Creative Academy, provided a hybrid
version of online and offline training for 1,000 participants from the creative
industry. They were trained in story development for series and film,
cinematography and digital marketing.
From the inception of his administration, one of the
promises Governor Sanwo-Olu made was to complete the projects relating to
tourism started by his predecessor. He set for work by establishing the Lagos
State Creative Industry Initiatives, LACI. The idea behind the establishment of
LACI is to further reposition the creative sector in line with the goals of his
administration to develop phases of tourism in the state to its optimal
potentials and showcase the state to the world while addressing skills deficiency
in the creative industry.
The LACI vision is to use the state’s rich, natural
resources and diverse cultural heritage to promote the sustainable development
of creative space as a viable sector of the economy in a manner that enhances,
promotes and preserves the richness, quality and unique features of Lagos. The
initiative aims to spotlight Lagos by bringing together creative talents that
will expand the scope of opportunities inherent in both tourism and the
creative industries.
With LACI, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture under
the watchful eyes of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu partnered with two private
firms; the EbonyLife Academy and Del-York Creative Academy to groom the next
set of professionals in the creative space.
Ebonylife, took about 480 creative participants in the
quarterly physical classroom while Del-York Creative Academy, provided a hybrid
version of online and offline training for 1,000 participants from the creative
industry. They were trained in story development for series and film,
cinematography and digital marketing.
Under this initiative aimed at bridging the gap in the
creative sector, Mr Governor has empowered many residents of the state with
tools needed to navigate the world of unemployment and they are equally
equipped technically to compete globally with their contemporaries when it
comes to film making.
The testimonials of the beneficiaries from LACI are very
encouraging. It should be stressed that this training, which ordinarily would
have cost the beneficiaries several thousands of Naira was at no cost to the
participants.
There is also the Film in a box initiative of the Governor
Sanwo-Olu led administration. So far people in Alimosho area of Lagos have
benefited from the initiative with another 890 youths sponsored by Sanwo-Olu’s
administration graduating from the African Film Academy after a free six-week
intensive training.
The 890 youths were beneficiaries of the ‘Film in a Box’
programme by the African Film Academy in conjunction with the Lagos State
Government, to train and empower young people in the creative industry in three
different centres – Alimosho, Epe and Badagry were the locations.
The graduating trainees learnt Acting, Art Directing, Light
and Lighting, Editing, Sound Production and Post-Production, among others and
interestingly, some of the students during the period of their training made
films. The plan was to show these films in the Cinema as a way of projecting
Alimosho to the world. The project was driven by the late Coordinator of the
Academy, Mrs Amaka Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
As a firm believer of continuity in governance Governor
Sanwo-Olu resuscitated and completed the abandoned J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba
Arts and Culture which has been the symbol of peace and culture, as it reminds
tourists of the roles returned slaves played in Lagos at the beginning of the
twentieth century.
It Is an edifice that is key to raising the bar of robust
entertainment and tourism in Lagos and a source of revenue generation to the
state. And, to the delight of Lagosians and culture enthusiasts, Babajide
Sanwo-Olu championed its delivery before the expiration of his first tenure.
Another significant development is the Glover Hall Memorial
Hall. His predecessor started the project while Governor Sanwo-Olu completed
and cut the tape of the edifice. The Hall has become a centre of creative
theatrics expression where live stage performances are held to the delight of
the people of Lagos Island and its environs.
Other Heritage and historical sites, shrines, and monuments
have been discovered in Ikorodu, Olomo-metta and Ilase riverine communities of
Badagry in the last four years with the Governor promising that the sites would
be documented, developed and preserved by his administration.
Also to the credit of Governor Sanwo-Olu is Eko NAFEST 2022
, as the state hosted the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)
Festival. It was an opportunity for the state government to market its rich
Cultural heritage to the world and speak to Nigerians for them to protect the
unity of the country.
Governor Sanwo-Olu used the occasion to charge every
Nigerian to see their diversity, ethnicity and religious tolerance as an
opportunity to unite without allowing politics and other things to divide them.
The Governor blazed the trail when his administration threw
its weight behind the foremost Nigerian music award, Headies. It is on record
that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration happened to be the first government
entity to support the academy award.
The Headies Award held in Atlanta State of Georgia in the
United States of America, had local musical artistes, producers, DJs, music
video directors and song writers rewarded for their talents and creativity.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s attendance at the academy award was
applauded and his intervention, which was adjudged a powerful turning point for
the industry, was seen as a genuine gesture by his administration to boost the
output and capacity in the creative sector.
Observers say by this intervention, the Governor
deliberately and intentionally facilitated the export of music products to the
world as this would translate to growth of the country’s GDP.
Since assumption of office, Greater Lagos Fiesta, an annual
entertainment event which is another flagship programme by Babajide Sanwo-Olu
has continued to engage and entertain Lagosians at the end of every year.
Ikorodu Town Hall, Epe Recreation Centre, Agege Stadium,
Badagry Grammar School, Eko Atlantic City and the recent one, Sol Beach
Victoria Island are the usual venues for the Fiesta that bring top-notch
musicians and upcoming artists to thrill thousands of their fans and
funseekers.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently expressed
commitment to explore more on tourism, entertainment and gaming for economic
and social development in the state.
He said, "Lagos, known for Its commercial and political
grandeur, is regarded as the commercial and entertainment capital of Africa and
has remained committed to the development of the nation’s tourism sector.
“This is through entertainment and cultural export across
various entities like movie, music, fashion and recently gaming.”
Sanwo-Olu assured Creative Art Practitioners in Lagos State
of his government’s unrelenting commitment to the growth of the sector,
describing it as one of the major drivers of tourism development in the state.
He added that, “Creative art occupies a special place in the
E pillar of his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, which stands for
Entertainment and Tourism. Over three years of the implementation of our
development agenda, we have left no one in doubt about our desire to fully
harness the largely untapped potentials in the entertainment sector, especially
the creative arts component”.
Amid the strides in the sector, the state’s Commissioner for
Tourism, Arts and Culture Mrs. Toke Benson believes that Lagos State would soon
gain global recognition showcasing her rich cultural heritage, music, people,
and cuisine, which she deemed incomparable.
In the same vein, the Special Adviser to the Governor on
Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe has assured that, “Under the
visionary leadership of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and with
the steadfast support of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and
Culture, we aim for nothing short of excellence.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture
stands firm in its mission to nurture our rich cultural heritage, promote
artistic endeavors, and propel the tourism sector forward as a cornerstone of
economic development.
“Together, let us embark on this transformative journey
towards a brighter, more prosperous future for Lagos State.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment