Lagos partners France to enhance cultural leadership, host exhibition
The Lagos State Government is strengthening its global cultural influence through new international partnerships, following high-level talks between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and 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 top ministry officials. On the French side were the Consul General of France in Lagos, Mr. Laurent Favier, and senior cultural representatives.
Discussions centred on two major 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 creating new platforms for creative exchange.
She added that the talks also explored investment opportunities in Lagos’ fast-growing creative economy, spanning film, fashion, music, 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,” Benson-Awoyinka said.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safeguarding heritage under the Lagos State Preservation Law of 2011, while also announcing plans for closer engagement with European Union cultural bodies to support capacity-building, policy development, and cultural conservation.
She disclosed that in the last year alone, Lagos funded over 140 cultural festivals and events with ₦8.4 billion, further cementing its status as Africa’s cultural capital.
