The Lagos State Government on Thursday announced plans for the second edition of its flagship Yuletide programme christened One Lagos Fiesta (OLF).
Speaking at a press conference at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House in Ikeja, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said 2016 will see a bigger, better and bolder OLF.
While the citywide carnival will continue in its tradition of holding across the five zones in the state, namely Ikeja (Agege Stadium), Badagry (Badagry Stadium), Ikorodu (Ikorodu Town Hall), Lagos Island (Bar Beach) and Epe (Epe Recreation Centre), there are at least six reasons Lagosians should look forward to an improvement over last year’s offering.
- Eight days of nonstop entertainment
Instead of the five days that it held last December, this year’s OLF will run for eight days from Christmas Eve on December 24 till the wee hours of the New Year.
The reason for the expanded fiesta, according to Mr Ayorinde, is to keep Lagosians, especially the youths, happy and creatively busy.
Beyond entertainers and their technical crew, three more days will mean extra engagement and income for transportation, hospitality, food and beverage entrepreneurs in the state.
- Street party as forerunner
The maiden edition of The Lagos Street Party (TLSP) held on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island last weekend was a successful precursor of OLF 2016.
With TLSP formally ushering in the Yuletide, OLF will fulfil its traditional obligation of ending the year on an entertaining note and usher in the New Year with fun and thanksgiving.
What happened at Victoria Island, the Lagos State Government assures, is a foretaste of the bigger and more colourful experience that will be replicated simultaneously across five zones in the state.
- Lagos’ Got Talent
A talent hunt exercise tagged Lagos’ Got Talent, which seeks to discover, celebrate and reward exceptional talents among the youth or the young at heart in the areas of music, dance, comedy and other creative stunts has been introduced to OLF 2016.
Not to be mistaken for Nigeria’s Got Talent which is a spinoff of Simon Cowell’s Got Talent franchise, Lagos’ Got Talent takes off from last year where new artistes climbed the stage to share the spotlight with stars like D’banj, Olamide, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Korede Bello, Wizkid, Lil Kesh, and Dare Art Alade.
This year, interested up and coming artistes are required to register online at www.onelagosfiesta.ng as well as in the five zonal offices across the state. Registration is already open and will run till Wednesday, December 14. Those selected from the audition will have an opportunity to perform at the OLF stage in each location between December 24 and 30, with the two finalists from each zone slugging it out for the final showdown in Victoria Island on December 31.
“If you are talented in any of these areas and you are looking for a platform to showcase your skills and begin a rewarding journey to stardom, then this year’s OLF is the platform you need,” Ayorinde said.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, an avid art and entertainment supporter, is said to have approved prizes that will be worth the effort of those who emerge from the talent hunt.
- Partnership with Glo and Nigerian Breweries
Two giants of corporate Nigeria, Globacom and Nigerian Breweries, are on board as major partners. With huge investment portfolios in Nigerian entertainment and many years of sponsoring major events, both organisations bring fat cheques and experience to the table.
Nigerian Breweries has sponsored multi-million dollars projects like Star Mega Jam, Star Trek and Gulder Ultimate Search.
Globacom also sponsors Glo Campus Storm and Glo/CAF African Football of the Year in addition to having a battalion of entertainers as brand ambassadors.
- Organising committee that works
Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Adebimpe Akinshola, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, have been appointed as co-chairpersons of the organising committee for the fiesta.
Last year’s edition was driven by Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, who was removed as commissioner for tourism and culture in October.
The committee this year should have leant a thing or two from the mistakes of last year, for which some people in Alausa were given strong verbal queries.
- Ambode for show
Ambode attended Day 1 of OLF 2015 in Agege on Sunday, December 27. He was on the ground in Epe, his home town, two days later, and was at the crossover night at the Bar Beach with the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; Senators Ganiu Solomon and Olamilekan Yayi; and members of his executive council on December 31.
According to Akinshola, Ambode has made arrangements to be at all the venues this year.
Of course, the man deserves to party like it’s his birthday. He has earned it.
