Lagos State is strengthening its cultural diplomacy and creative economy through deeper ties with France, following a high-level meeting between the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and senior officials of the French Embassy and Consulate in Ikoyi.
The meeting, held on Thursday, August 21, 2025, was led by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Idowu Johnson, Head of Legal, Mrs. Eunice Ibitola, and Deputy Director, Monuments Department, Mrs. Folashade Jide-Oyesola.
The French delegation included the Consul General of France in Lagos, Mr. Laurent Favier; Head of Cooperation at the French Embassy, Mr. Thierry Valentin; Audio-visual Attaché, Mr. Christophe Pecot; and Cultural Attaché, Ms. Emmanuelle Harang.Discussions focused on two landmark French-supported initiatives scheduled for October: a Fela Exhibition and a Cultural Conference expected to attract between 800 and 1,200 participants to Lagos.
According to Benson-Awoyinka, both events will showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage on the global stage while opening new platforms for creative exchange and international collaboration.
Beyond the events, the meeting also explored strategic investment opportunities in Lagos’ vibrant creative industries, ranging from film, music, and fashion to animation and documentary production.
“Lagos is Africa’s creative heartbeat, and partnerships like this ensure our heritage is preserved while our creative industries continue to flourish,” the Commissioner said.
Benson-Awoyinka reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding cultural assets under the Lagos State Preservation Law of 2011, stressing that heritage conservation remains central to the State’s cultural policy.
She also disclosed plans for closer engagement with European Union cultural bodies to support training, policy development, and cultural conservation across Lagos.
Highlighting the State’s investment in the sector, the Commissioner revealed that Lagos funded over 140 cultural festivals and events with ₦8.4 billion in the past year alone, reinforcing its position as Africa’s cultural capital.
She further noted that there will be a follow-up meeting with French cultural agencies to formalise collaboration and align projects with the Ministry’s priority needs.
The discussions, she said, reflect Lagos’ growing status as both a cultural and economic powerhouse, capable of attracting global partnerships that create jobs, preserve heritage, and project Nigerian creativity to the world
