By Taiye Olayemi, Lagos.
The Lagos State Government has partnered with Euro Vision Ventures to promote and market the artistic products as well as the tourism potential of the state to the global world.
Mr Dozie Atueyi, Programme Director, Euro Vision Ventures, disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Lagos.
Atueyi said that the partnership would ensure proper harnessing and projection of the assets and potential of Lagos music, arts, dance, crafts, culture and tourism potential to the world.
He said that in the process of executing this project, the state tourism and cultural potential would be displayed at exhibitions in cities like Toronto, Istanbul and London.
He noted that the exhibition, which would be tagged “Lagos Arts and Tourism Expo”, would go a long way in attracting tourists to the country as well as boosting Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
“We are out to project Nigeria, most especially Lagos, to the world; we want to reverse a trend of people wanting to go abroad, as there are lots of opportunities here.
“We will be projecting Lagos aquatic offerings, tourism potential, cultural assets, fabrics of Adire, artworks and all manner of crafts.
“This is to make Lagos the most preferred destination for tourism, leisure and business.
“These tourism, cultural potential, arts and crafts will be exhibited in Istanbul from Oct. 5 to 9, in London from Nov. 16 to 20 and in Toronto from Dec. 14 to 18,” he said.
Atueyi appreciated the state government for the support enjoyed so far.
He also commended Seamless Travels, Nigerian Breweries Plc. and CIT Micro Finance for their support.
Also speaking, Mr Ayoola Sadare, Founder, Lagos International Jazz Festival, one of the partners for the project, said that authentic music from the city of Lagos would be projected, cutting across Fuji, Jazz and Afrobeat genres.
According to him, the project is not a relocation plan for Nigerians to travel abroad but an opportunity for the products of their creativity to be exported for patronage.
He said that the exhibition would create viable marketing platforms for Nigerian music, arts, tourism and culture.
Mr Todin Olukuade, Creative Director, FC Accessories, who specialises in turning storytelling of cities to works of arts, said that he would be relaying the stories of Lagos in some works of arts which would be exhibited as accessories.
Olukuade said that these accessories would be coming in form of household materials and souvenirs.
Ms Triumph Dominon, the sponsorship consultant, expressed her love for the rich and diverse culture of Lagos State, urging Nigerians to take pride in their culture.
“I love Nigeria and specifically Lagos State, with its huge wealth of culture, we should learn to appreciate ourselves.
“People said Lagos is crazy but New York is crazier; we must learn to appreciate our Lagos,” she said.
