The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, recently held a roundtable discussion with some Consuls General at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, towards establishing good working relationships and initiating modalities for seamless visits to Lagos by tourists and visitors from their various countries.
In her address at the event, the Commissioner for the Ministry, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf said: “This roundtable was necessitated by the need to establish a good relationship with the offices of Consuls General in Lagos State. We want to collaborate with your offices and ensure that tourists and visitors to Lagos State have seamless immigration passage, especially for those coming in and taking artworks out of Nigeria”.
She explained the various activities and programmes of the Ministry in the last three years of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration and its upcoming events including a planned Art Exhibition, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State and some Banks in Nigeria.
According to her: “Different art enthusiasts have been invited to the exhibition and we have listed about 50 Arts Collectors that will be present at the event. Participants would also include other First Ladies from the Southwest States of Nigeria as well as people from the diaspora”.
While informing the gathering that Ministry will be partnering with the Federal Government to ensure seamless visits of Tourists. The Commissioner stated that it is important to bring to the fore all challenges that art collectors face when coming into the country and those traveling out of the country for similar art exhibitions and festivals.
Responding, all attendees present at the roundtable agreed that they were happy to be invited to the event and assured that they will help to deepen the relationship between their respective countries and Lagos State.
Consuls General of Germany, Switzerland, Spain, India and Benin Republic, amongst others, were present at the event.
