Though the transformational management of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has impacted vastly on all sectors of the state, it’s worthy to notice that the governor whose first time period agenda was anchored on T.H.E.M.E.S agenda has given precedence consideration to the Tourism and Leisure sector that are main cardinals in his THEMES Plus developmental agenda.
In just 5 years in workplace, listed below are a number of the actions Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration has taken to make Lagos state viable so far as tourism, leisure, artwork and tradition because the ecosystem is anxious.
His final objective is to drive tourism, create employment and improve the contribution of the non-oil sector to the state’s gross home product.
To exhibit his administration’s dedication to the leisure sector, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu turned the sod on the $100 million African Movie Metropolis venture in Epe, Lagos State.
The venture, which was designed to empower artistic talts, construct capability and double monetary and coaching help for the sector, was stemmed out of the state tourism grasp plan beneath his THEMES Agenda. The masterplan was then rigorously pushed by Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf when she led the Ministry of Tourism Artwork and Tradition.
The Movie Metropolis proposed to be constructed on 100 hectares of land will create extra alternatives for talent growth in trendy filmmaking, improve grants for brief tales in addition to put Lagos on the worldwide filmmaking map.
This large infrastructure and multi-million greenback venture to be in-built partnership with the Del-York Group, upon completion, is anticipated to turn into the ‘Silicon Valley’ of artistic concepts not only for Nigerians but additionally for all the continent. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu by this venture is encouraging stakeholders within the movie manufacturing to inform our tales to the world.
The masterplan, pushed by the Lagos Tourism Coverage, goals to harness and develop the state’s tourism assets into completely different merchandise of attraction for each in-bound and out-bound vacationers; unleash Lagos tourism to the world by aggressive digital advertising and marketing and promotion; stimulate and inspiring artistic arts business, to help and encourage the event of tourism initiatives on the native communities.
Below Governor Sanwo-Olu, some areas of tourism actions that had been hitherto not given consideration have now been captured within the masterplan and it will engender all-round growth of each facet of tourism within the coming years.
With the tourism masterplan, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has proven his willpower to cowl all elements of tourism within the state, which might be for a better Lagos.
Curiously, one of many guarantees Governor Sanwo-Olu made was to finish the tasks regarding tourism began by his predecessor. He set for work by establishing the Lagos State Artistic Business Initiatives, LACI. The thought behind the institution of LACI is to additional reposition the artistic sector in step with the objectives of his administration to develop phases of tourism within the state to its optimum potentials and showcase the state to the world whereas addressing expertise deficiency within the artistic business.
The LACI imaginative and prescient is to make use of the state’s wealthy, pure assets and various cultural heritage to advertise the sustainable growth of artistic house as a viable sector of the economic system in a way that enhances, promotes and preserves the richness, high quality and distinctive options of Lagos. The initiative goals to highlight Lagos by bringing collectively artistic abilities that may broaden the scope of alternatives inherent in each tourism and the artistic industries.
With LACI, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Tradition beneath the watchful eyes of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu partnered with two personal companies; the EbonyLife Academy and Del-York Artistic Academy to groom the following set of execs within the artistic house.
Ebonylife, took about 480 artistic contributors within the quarterly bodily classroom whereas Del-York Artistic Academy, supplied a hybrid model of on-line and offline coaching for 1,000 contributors from the artistic business. They had been skilled in story growth for collection and movie, cinematography and digital advertising and marketing.
From the inception of his administration, one of many guarantees Governor Sanwo-Olu made was to finish the tasks regarding tourism began by his predecessor. He set for work by establishing the Lagos State Artistic Business Initiatives, LACI. The thought behind the institution of LACI is to additional reposition the artistic sector in step with the objectives of his administration to develop phases of tourism within the state to its optimum potentials and showcase the state to the world whereas addressing expertise deficiency within the artistic business.
The LACI imaginative and prescient is to make use of the state’s wealthy, pure assets and various cultural heritage to advertise the sustainable growth of artistic house as a viable sector of the economic system in a way that enhances, promotes and preserves the richness, high quality and distinctive options of Lagos. The initiative goals to highlight Lagos by bringing collectively artistic abilities that may broaden the scope of alternatives inherent in each tourism and the artistic industries.
With LACI, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Tradition beneath the watchful eyes of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu partnered with two personal companies; the EbonyLife Academy and Del-York Artistic Academy to groom the following set of execs within the artistic house.
Ebonylife, took about 480 artistic contributors within the quarterly bodily classroom whereas Del-York Artistic Academy, supplied a hybrid model of on-line and offline coaching for 1,000 contributors from the artistic business. They had been skilled in story growth for collection and movie, cinematography and digital advertising and marketing.
Below this initiative aimed toward bridging the hole within the artistic sector, Mr Governor has empowered many residents of the state with instruments wanted to navigate the world of unemployment and they’re equally geared up technically to compete globally with their contemporaries relating to movie making.
The testimonials of the beneficiaries from LACI are very encouraging. It ought to be confused that this coaching, which ordinarily would have value the beneficiaries a number of 1000’s of Naira was for free of charge to the contributors.
There may be additionally the Movie in a field initiative of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration. To this point individuals in Alimosho space of Lagos have benefited from the initiative with one other 890 youths sponsored by Sanwo-Olu’s administration graduating from the African Movie Academy after a free six-week intensive coaching.
The 890 youths had been beneficiaries of the ‘Movie in a Field’ programme by the African Movie Academy along side the Lagos State Authorities, to coach and empower younger individuals within the artistic business in three completely different centres – Alimosho, Epe and Badagry had been the areas.
The graduating trainees learnt Appearing, Artwork Directing, Mild and Lighting, Modifying, Sound Manufacturing and Put up-Manufacturing, amongst others and apparently, a number of the college students through the interval of their coaching made movies. The plan was to point out these movies within the Cinema as a means of projecting Alimosho to the world. The venture was pushed by the late Coordinator of the Academy, Mrs Amaka Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
As a agency believer of continuity in governance Governor Sanwo-Olu resuscitated and accomplished the deserted J.Okay Randle Centre for Yoruba Arts and Tradition which has been the image of peace and tradition, because it reminds vacationers of the roles returned slaves performed in Lagos initially of the 20 th century.
It’s an edifice that’s key to elevating the bar of strong leisure and tourism in Lagos and a income era to the state. And, to the delight of Lagosians and tradition fans, Babajide Sanwo-Olu championed its supply earlier than the expiration of his first tenure.
One other important growth is the Glover Corridor Memorial Corridor. His predecessor began the venture whereas Governor Sanwo-Olu accomplished and lower the tape of the edifice. The Corridor has turn into a centre of artistic theatrics expression the place dwell stage performances are held to the delight of the individuals of Lagos Island and its environs.
Different Heritage and historic websites, shrines, and monuments have been found in Ikorodu, Olomo-metta and Ilase riverine communities of Badagry within the final 4 years with the Governor promising that the websites can be documented, developed and preserved by his administration.
Additionally to the credit score of Governor Sanwo-Olu is Eko NAFEST 2022 , because the state hosted the Nationwide Competition of Arts and Tradition (NAFEST) Competition. It was a chance for the state authorities to market its wealthy Cultural heritage to the world and communicate to Nigerians for them to guard the unity of the nation.
Governor Sanwo-Olu used the event to cost each Nigerian to see their range, ethnicity and non secular tolerance as a chance to unite with out permitting politics and different issues to divide them.
The Governor blazed the path when his administration threw its weight behind the foremost Nigerian music award, Headies. It’s on document that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration occurred to be the primary authorities entity to help the academy award.
The Headies Award held in Atlanta State of Georgia in america of America, had native musical artistes, producers, DJs, music video administrators and music writers rewarded for his or her abilities and creativity.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s attendance on the academy award was applauded and his intervention, which was adjudged a strong turning level for the business, was seen as a real gesture by his administration to spice up the output and capability within the artistic sector.
Observers say by this intervention, the Governor intentionally and deliberately facilitated the export of music merchandise to the world as this might translate to development of the nation’s GDP.
Since assumption of workplace, Better Lagos Fiesta, an annual leisure occasion which is one other flagship programme by Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to interact and entertain Lagosians on the finish of yearly.
Ikorodu City Corridor, Epe Recreation Centre, Agege Stadium, Badagry Grammar Faculty, Eko Atlantic Metropolis and the latest one, Sol Seaside Victoria Island are the standard venues for the Fiesta that carry top-notch musicians and upcoming artists to thrill 1000’s of their followers and funseekers.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has persistently expressed dedication to discover extra on tourism, leisure and gaming for financial and social growth within the state.
He stated, “Lagos, identified for its industrial and political grandeur, is considered the industrial and leisure capital of Africa and has remained dedicated to the event of the nation’s tourism sector.
“That is by leisure and cultural export throughout varied entities like film, music, trend and not too long ago gaming.”
Sanwo-Olu assured Artistic Artwork Practitioners in Lagos State of his authorities’s unrelenting dedication to the expansion of the sector, describing it as one of many main drivers of tourism growth within the state.
He added that, “Artistic artwork occupies a particular place within the E pillar of his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, which stands for Leisure and Tourism. Over three years of the implementation of our growth agenda, we now have left nobody doubtful about our need to completely harness the largely untapped potentials within the leisure sector, particularly the artistic arts part”.
Amid the strides within the sector, the state’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Tradition Mrs. Toke Benson believes that Lagos State would quickly acquire international recognition showcasing her wealthy cultural heritage, music, individuals, and delicacies, which she deemed incomparable.
In the identical vein, the Particular Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Tradition, Mr. Idris Aregbe has assured that, “Below the visionary management of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and with the steadfast help of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Tradition, we intention for nothing wanting excellence.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Tradition stands agency in its mission to nurture our wealthy cultural heritage, promote creative endeavors, and propel the tourism sector ahead as a cornerstone of financial growth.
“Collectively, allow us to embark on this transformative journey in direction of a brighter, extra affluent future for Lagos State.”