PRESS RELEASE

• Governor Receives Information Minister, Lai Mohammed

Lagos State, in November, will literally become the global epicentre for culture and tourism exhibitions, as Nigeria hosts the maiden United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised the State would be extending its warmest hospitality to visitors that will be attending the event across the world while giving assurance of Lagos’ readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to use the event to create lasting positive impression for the country.

The Governor made the pledge, on Thursday, when he received the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on a courtesy visit at the State House in Marina.

The UNWTO global conference will hold at the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, between November 14 and 16, 2022.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that November would be a full month of cultural and tourism fiesta in Lagos, as the State put preparations on top gear to host the National Festival of Arts and Culture in collaboration with National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in the same month.

The State, Sanwo-Olu said, will also be commissioning the biggest art museum – J.K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History – in November, making the whole month a period in which the rich heritage of Lagos will be highlighted.

The Governor said the State’s strategic investment in the arts and creative industry was deliberate in order to boost the tourism market in Lagos and drive cultural renaissance, while giving the youths new lease of life to hone their talents in the entertainment sector.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The month of November has been christened the month for arts and culture in Lagos. We will be witnessing a huge influx of people from the Diaspora to participate in all the cultural and art activities that will be taking place in the period. Lagos will be hosting NAFEST and we are unveiling an art museum, which will be about the biggest in Africa. The UNWTO global conference will be the crescendo of the whole events. We will be using the opportunity to showcase some of our best in class of arts and also project parts of the country not seen before.

“This is part of ensuring that we utilise what we have not only for the development of our State and the country, but also to give our teeming youths opportunities to flourish, using their God-given talents. Entertainment and Tourism industry is seen as a rallying point for great number of the youth who continue to display their talents in arts, culture, music, technology and all the spaces they have excelled. We are turning around things in this sector to ensure our country remains the destination for the best talents in entertainment and tourism.”

The Governor said he was excited at the opportunities the cultural fairs would be giving residents to project their heritage and contribute their quota towards advancing culture and civilisation. This, he said, is in line with Tourism and Entertainment pillar of his administration’s development blueprint.

Sanwo-Olu reiterated the State Government’s commitment towards the effort to restore the old glory of the National Arts Theatre, which is currently undergoing massive regeneration and upgrade.

The Governor said the State Government would continue to engage the Federal Government to turn around abandoned assets for better use.

“Lagos will be willing to be a partner of the Federal Government to host the coming global tourism conference and give international visitors lasting positive impression. I assure that our citizens will be accommodating and extend the warmest hospitality of Lagos to the participants,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Earlier, the Minister said the conference marked the fifth time the UNWTO and its member
states demonstrated confidence in Nigeria by giving the country the hosting right of major international events.

Mohammed said the choice of the National Theatre was most appropriate for the conference, because the monument remained the hub of arts and entertainment in the country, and would return the edifice to its role.

He said: “The conference provides socio-economic benefits among other opportunities where we will showcase Nigeria’s tourism, culture and creative assets, project the country’s image as a safe and desirable destination for leisure and business, and consolidate on our relationship with the UNWTO and its member states.

“The conference will also generate foreign exchange and create direct and indirect jobs, while highlighting the restart of travel and tourism in a safe and seamless manner after the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in a near collapse of the sector. There will be interaction and exchange of ideas and best practices with key industry players, while creating opportunities for the training of public and private sector tourism officials.”

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
21 JULY 2022

@66: Akeredolu A Hegemon With Collaborative Praxis, says Jimoh Ibrahim

Business mogul and All Progressives Congress’ senatorial candidate for Ondo South in the forthcoming general elections, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, has described Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, as a hegemon with collaborative praxis.

He stated this on Thursday while congratulating the governor on his 66th birthday anniversary.

Ibrahim said what God has been using the Chairman of Southwest Governors’ Forum for in the country, particularly in the Souh-West, on security would remain indelible in the history of the nation.

He commended Arakunrin Akeredolu for the industrialization projects which manifested in Ondo State Industrial Park at Omotosho in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The popular senatorial candidate noted that the series of industries established in the park has reduced the hitherto high rate of unemployment in the state, particularly in Ondo South.

Jimoh Ibrahim explained that the efforts of the governor in attracting investors to the state paid off through world standard economic policies introduced by his administration in the state.

He said the thoughtfulness of the governor made him decide to construct flyover at Ore, which has brought an end to the ghastly accidents that usually occurred on the busy Ore/Benin highway.

According to Ibrahim, “Arakunrin is a hegemon with collaborative praxis. He ensures unity in our party, APC and members are working collectively with the governor for the success of the party in the forthcoming general elections and beyond.

“He carries everyone along and he’s a good leader who puts all his followers into consideration in all his decisions.

“We thank God for what he has been using him for in Nigeria, Ondo State and Ondo South senatorial district.

“He stands against insecurity in the country because he knows as a governor, the onus lies on him to ensure the protection of lives and property of his people irrespective of their political leaning.

“The governor is well red and enlightened. He is of the view that there’s no way any investor would put his money where security of life and property cannot be assured.

” I commend him on what he had done at the Industrial Park Omotosho, which has reduced unemployment drastically in the state and Ondo South.

“He constructed the Ore flyover to stamp out avoidable ghastly accidents in which several lives had been lost in the past.”

Ibrahim, therefore, prayed to God to give the governor a long life and sound health to fulfill God’s desires upon him.