Celebrated arts collector, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, spoke the mind of millions when he said if Lagos can sustain the drive to revive the creative arts and entertainment industry, the state is capable of feeding Nigeria with foreign exchange.
Speaking at the opening of the maiden edition of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Eko Art Expo on Friday, January 27, Shyllon cited France, Spain and South Africa as countries who are raking in millions of dollars through arts, culture and tourism, saying Lagos was already taking a cue.
“Lagos State has blazed the trail. Thank You Governor, you are the Moses we have been waiting for. It takes a lot of insight for someone to identify this great creativity in this state and an industry is being created, joblessness would reduce, people will be busy, we would have less social problems, the image of this state will grow and we would become a great city,” he said.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule, said the three-day expo has achieved its purpose of using tourism, entertainment and the creative art to boost and stimulate the economy of the state.
Adebule noted that the coming together of artists and art lovers at the Eko Hotel & Suites is further demonstration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s determination to run an all-inclusive government where everyone is a major stakeholder and have freedom to contribute to the social, economic and political growth of the state.
The deputy governor promised that the state government will work towards making the art expo an annual event in order to sustain and maintain an enduring relationship with the arts sector so as to harness fullest its economic benefits and assist in the development of the state.
While promising the state government’s support for genuine innovations and creativity that can enhance individual development, the deputy governor called on more artists and exhibitors to come on board and take full advantage of enabling environment provided by the state government to develop their potential.
She applauded the organising committee for allowing student artists showcase their work alongside top and already established artists, noting that the efforts will not only serve as a morale booster for students but encourage them to do better.
Speaking on the success of the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Overseas Affairs and Investments, Prof Ademola Abass, said the expo was primarily put together to commemorate the passion and dedication of late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi to the arts and also to recognise his contributions to the development of the state especially his commitment to Lagos State @ 50 celebration, for which the deceased was co-chairman.
Abbas further informed that the Eko Art Expo is the beginning of series of activities and events lined up for the Lagos @ 50 celebration coming up in May.
Ambode’s commitment to the success of Lagos @ 50 and development of the Nigeria creative industry was confirmed over the weekend when Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced that Lagos has undertaken to renovate the National Theatre ahead of the celebration.
The inspiration for that can be found in the governor’s speech at the opening of the art expo.
“In a situation where we have been unable to tap the energy in creative arts, I can tell you for free that the real future of Lagos and the economy generally in Nigeria is in the creative arts, entertainment and in services. Like I have always said, we have an end to white collar jobs, so the future and now is for those who are creative, innovative and those who can use their energy and talent to create employment.”
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Ambode said his administration believes that no nation or state can achieve its full potential without adequate attention to matters of heritage and culture or without due encouragement for the teeming youthful population that sees and seeks opportunities in the creative industries.
“Creativity is the most valuable asset in any progressive society. Therefore, progressive governments must embrace creativity. We are committed, and we must reward contributors of creative ideas with incentives.
“This is why we are keenly interested in further development of our creative talents; in providing them with support and opportunities to be engaged; in helping to create platforms such as today’s to excel and compete globally and in showing to the world that Lagos is more than ready to announce its arrival as the continent’s frontline destination of choice that gives arts and culture their due,” the governor said.
He said aside the six arts theatres and cinemas which would come on board this year; his administration was making several other interventions to engage the arts community for the Lagos @ 50 celebrations, including engaging several artists to decorate various parts of the state with landmark installations.
“Imagine if you give these young ones six arts theatres and cinemas across Lagos, that means they can display their talents, that means we would create more jobs for people, that means there would be money coming into Lagos and then we would have improved on tourism, that’s what we are doing,” Ambode said.
Mohammed commended the efforts of Governor Ambode describing him as one of the most passionate governors keen to give the creative arts industry a face lift.
Mohammed said Ambode, aside being the first governor in Nigeria to build theatres all over the state, his passion to upgrade the National Museum and the National Theatre to world class standard was second to none.
Speaking to journalists on Friday evening, Mohammed said the Federal Government cannot achieve its agenda for the creative industry without active participation of Lagos State.
“With its over 20 million people, Lagos is the home of the creative sector,” he said.
Coming one month after the “bigger, bolder and better” One Lagos Fiesta, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said during a tweet chat last week that Rasheed Gbadamosi Eko Art Expo is eloquent proof that Ambode’s support for the arts does not end with music and motion picture.
