The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture recently held a roundtable discussion with some Consuls General towards initiating modalities for seamless visits to Lagos by international tourists.
At the event held a at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf said to the participants: “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 the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration and its upcoming events, which include a proposed Art Exhibition, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State and some Nigerian banks.
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 the Ministry would 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.
The participants said that they were happy to be invited to the event and assured that they would help to deepen the relationship between their respective countries and the state.
Consuls General of Germany, Switzerland, Spain, India and Benin Republic, amongst others, were present at the event.