The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cultural development through strategic partnerships with both local and international stakeholders.
This assurance was given by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, during a courtesy visit by the Co-founder and Managing Director of IGA Nigeria Limited, Gbolahan Ajala.
Ajala served as a Heritage Consultant to the State Government.
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Welcoming the delegation, Benson-Awoyinka noted that the Ministry’s ongoing projects align with the vision of the visiting team.
“As a government, we place a high premium on culture and heritage,” she said.
“Our projects—such as the transformation of theatres into cinemas and the creation of youth engagement centres—reflect our dedication to promoting the cultural sector. We are open to sponsorships, endorsements, and properly documented proposals that support cultural growth.”
She also highlighted government-backed initiatives such as talent hunts and the Lagos Creative Initiatives (LACI), designed to nurture young creative talents across the state.
The Commissioner expressed optimism about future collaborations in areas such as museums, archives, and cultural exhibitions.
Benson-Awoyinka further noted the government’s interest in festival partnerships that could enhance the growth of the cultural and creative industries both within and beyond Nigeria.
Also present at the meeting, held at the Ministry’s conference room in Alausa, was the Permanent Secretary, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, who expressed strong support for the proposed partnerships and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to positioning Lagos as a leading cultural and creative hub.
Nadine Siegert, Director of the Goethe-Institut Nigeria and President of the EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) Nigeria Cluster, expressed eagerness to work more closely with Lagos-based artists and institutions.
“Cultural heritage, museums, and archives are among our key areas of interest,” she said, adding that collaboration with both state and federal agencies is vital.
Also speaking, Toluwanimi Owolana, Cluster Coordinator for the Africa-Europe Partnership for Culture, introduced a European Union-funded initiative supporting festival producers across six West African countries, including Nigeria.
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“Lagos holds a central position in this initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with the Ministry to drive it forward,” she said.
Tolulope Ami-Williams, Project Coordinator for the ‘Claiming the Future’ initiative, also spoke on a community-based mural and performance exhibition scheduled for six locations across Lagos, including Badagry, Makoko, and Bariga.
She appealed for the Ministry’s support in securing the necessary approvals.
“Our initiative engages young artists, mentors, and host communities. We hope to receive the Ministry’s backing to ensure the project’s success,” she said.
