In a bid to deepen regional collaboration and boost the creative and tourism sectors across West Africa, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture hosted a high-level delegation from the Ghana Creative Arts Agency at its headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
Speaking during the visit, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described the engagement as a strategic opportunity for knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and sustainable growth within the creative sector.
“Lagos does not compete, we create and collaborate,” she said.
“It is a pleasure to host our brothers and sisters from Ghana. This engagement is about synergy, shared learning, and laying a foundation for cross-border support systems that benefit creatives throughout the region.”
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Highlighting Lagos’ leadership in Africa’s cultural and creative industries, Benson-Awoyinka reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to delivering a comprehensive, year-round calendar of tourism and cultural events, aimed at solidifying the state’s position as a premier destination for arts, culture, and tourism.
She further emphasised the economic potential of the creative sector, describing it as a formal industry with the capacity to drive significant economic growth when fully developed.
“Creativity is a vast industry, and everyone has a role to play in its advancement,” she added.
The Commissioner also pledged the Ministry’s support for the forthcoming Speed Boat Racing and Creative Summit, scheduled for October 2025.
This she described as an innovative platform to showcase Lagos’ waterfront culture and diverse creative talents.
She stressed the need for sustainable public-private funding models, strong institutional support, and youth empowerment across all creative disciplines.
Also speaking during the visit, Bisi Omojare, Director of Creative Arts at the Ministry, explained the operational framework designed to encourage creatives—from architecture to comedy—to register with the Ministry.
She noted that registration facilitates access to endorsements and government support for participation in both local and international events.
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Leading the Ghanaian delegation, Acting Executive Secretary of the Ghana Creative Arts Agency, Gideon Aryeequaye, expressed admiration for Lagos’ structured approach to cultural development and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to building similar systems.
“We have always admired Lagos from afar, and this visit has confirmed why you are regarded as a big sister in the creative space,” Aryeequaye said.
“Our purpose here is to learn, collaborate, and grow together.”
Reflecting on the transformation of Ghana’s Creative Arts Agency following national reforms in 2020, Aryeequaye proposed future initiatives including immersive exchanges, joint talent showcases, and collaborative media projects designed to promote Afrocentric ownership of creative assets and resist cultural dilution.
