Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State Governor, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday unveiled the maiden edition of the Lagos Shopping Festival, with the aim of creating job opportunities and boost commercial activities in the state.
The maiden edition is scheduled to be held in the state from December 23 to 25 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Lagos Island.
It is organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts in partnership with Tolaram Africa Group, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Chain Reactions Africa
At the unveiling ceremony of the festival symbol held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that the festival will drive commerce and help local businesses to grow, attract global brands, and create direct and indirect employment opportunities as vendors will have the chance to display their wares and make sales on the day
He added that the festival will promote tourism and draw local and international tourists to the state.
Sanwo-Olu compared the festival with the one taking place in Dubai every year adding that Lagos festival is a replica of the Dubai shopping festival which have been going for the past 30-years.
“By this December, the City of Dubai will be holding the 30th edition of its annual Dubai Shopping Festival but we are just starting now, and we believe it is never too late.
“I am excited that come this December, the City of Lagos will be joining the league of other global cities such as Istanbul and Dubai with their own dedicated shopping festivals. This is part of our broader strategy to continue to market Lagos as a premium destination for business and leisure,” he said
The governor further said aside from being an avenue for entertainment, the festival will serve as ‘an economic tool to achieve a number of economic objectives.’
The festival’s Director of Organisation and Logistics, Ms. Damilola Pedro, also said the three days shopping festival will promote trade and commerce during the three days of activities.
She described it as one of the legacies the governor will be leaving behind for Lagosians.
“For us, the Lagos Shopping Festival also places us alongside other big economies like the Singapore Shopping Festival and Dubai Festival. Lagos is thriving and opening up for more businesses,” she said.
The Special Adviser to Governor on Tourism, Culture and Arts, Mr. Idris Aregbe, said the fair the ministry had in April was used as a test to prepare them ahead of the Lagos Shopping Festival, which is bigger in scope and scale.