Lagos Tourism Ministry Visits First Lady, Seeks Collaboration To Host NAFEST, Arts & Craft Exhibitions  

 
The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture team led by its Commissioner, Pharm. Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile Yusuf has visited the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu to seek collaboration on an exhibition of Arts and artefacts as well as the upcoming National Festival for Arts and Culture, (NAFEST2022).
 
Akinbile-Yusuf said the collaboration is expected to deepen the economic potential in the sector and create job opportunities for the younger generation.
 
In her address during the visit, the Commissioner said, “We want the First Lady to partner with the Ministry in areas of arts and crafts which can create job opportunities for the teeming youths of the State. It is very clear that the First Lady is so passionate about the youths in Lagos State and has been at the forefront empowering and training them to be useful to the State”.  
 
Disclosing that diplomats, tourists and other stakeholders in the arts and culture sector will be part of these events, Akinbile-Yusuf said the exhibitions will showcase different artworks such as those made with tie and dye materials as well as others made of tin, plastic and rubber to beautify the body.

 
Akinbile – Yusuf noted that during the best of Lagos tour by the Ministry, one of the tourism sites visited was the Oshodi Arts Gallery in Ikorodu containing so many artefacts, just as she stated that about 50 such exhibitors will participate in the forthcoming event to generate money and, ultimately improve the GDP of the State.
 
Her words: “We want to bring facilitators that will come and explain all the things we can do with our arts and crafts like the Adire. There are so many things we can use it to achieve, we can use it for bag making, we can also use it for shoemaking aside from just wearing it and with this, we can empower so many people in the State”.

 
She also gave an insight into the National Festival for Arts (NAFEST) which has been approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to be hosted by Lagos State.
 
The Commissioner notified the First Lady of her nomination as ‘Mama NAFEST’, being the co-host of the event, stating further that a day will be set aside for children at the Teslim Balogun Stadium for training on different arts and crafts, in addition to a prize-winning competition for youths.
 
Responding, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu assured everyone of her full support, expressing appreciation for the way the Ministry has promoted tourism to aid development.
 
Advising residents in the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas to participate in the upcoming event and display their culture, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu anticipated that everything peculiar to Lagos would be showcased at the event. 
 
Officials on the entourage included the Senior Special Assistant on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Tunji Seymour as well as Directors from the Ministry.