Kunle Adelabu
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that the ‘Greater Lagos Extravaganza’ is part of the plans of his administration to use entertainment to develop the state’s economy.
He made this statement in Ikorodu on Sunday, December 29,2019, in an interview with THE IMPACT at the Day 5 of the on-going ‘Greater Lagos Extravaganza’ holding at the Ikorodu Town hall.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mrs Olufunke Adebolu represented the governor.
While expressing her joy at the impressive turnout at the Ikorodu venue of the event, Mrs Adebolu also stated that entertainment is part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s agenda to open up economic activities and develop Lagos State.
“It gives me great joy to see the Ikorodu venue filled to its capacity. People in Ikorodu are part of the celebration. On behalf of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who has put this together, we say thank you to Ikorodu people. The event has started since December 25. It’s been incredible here in Ikorodu with lot of talented people coming out to participate”, she stated.
“Lagos is the entertainment hub of the continent and in Ikorodu tonight (Sunday), we have been able to display that we can use entertainment to open up economic corridor. We have been able to accelerate economic activities through entertainment. This is our major focus in Lagos State”, Mrs Adebolu stated on behalf of Gov. Sanwo-Olu.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, also speaking with our reporter at the show, stated that the yuletide show is a social gathering that brings people together to unwind and interact.
“This is Greater Lagos carnival which the government of the state usually package at the end of the year to assembly people from different communities across the state to make them unwind and entertained“, he stated.
The four-term lawmaker also stated that the annual event helps in reducing crime in the society.
“It’s about social gathering and interaction and to a large extent, it helps reduce crime because many of the guys here today are off the streets and by the time they leave the venue, they would go back to their various homes because it’s already late. The platform has also allowed for talents discovery. It makes people unwind and relax”, Hon. Agunbiade stated.
The Chairman, Tourism, Arts & Culture Committee, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Saka Nurudeen Solaja, also speaking with our reporter, stated that the yuletide gathering has help in bringing residents in the six councils of Ikorodu Division together to interact.
Mr Gbenga Omotosho, Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Lagos State, stated that the state government has provided the entertainment platform for the people to enjoy themselves at the end of the year.
“It’s been a great show. Around this time of the year, there is nothing again except to merry, party and be glad. The Governor of the State, Mr Sanwo-Olu, has made it possible for us to have a great party that Lagos has ever seen”, he stated.
“I think that people are enjoying the 7 days of partying, frolicking and merry-making” , Omotosho added.
The image maker of the state stated that the Greater Lagos platform has also provided young and talented artistes the opportunity to develop themselves and learn from the established artistes.
“I have been able to witness the show in two other centres. What I am seeing here in Ikorodu is amazing. I have been able to see many talented local artistes that are very well known to the crowd and they are enjoying them. Each time an artiste gets on the stage, it makes the crowd excited and the excitement is all over the place in Badagry, Agege, Ikorodu and other places.
“The talent hunt show is an avenue for the youths to develop themselves and they should emulate some of the established artistes that have done well in their careers so that they too can get to the top for the world to watch them”, he stated.
Ms Bisola Olusanya, Special Adviser on Agriculture to the Governor of Lagos State, equally said that the 7-day entertainment event is a means of promoting economic development in the state.
“We are here to celebrate Greater Lagos for the people of Ikorodu. The agenda here is to celebrate our culture. It’s a way of promoting our local talents and make them to be heard by the international audience. While we are also having fun, commercial activities are also being promoted. To put it within context, the economic activities have been improved as people get to engage in commercial activities”.
Also speaking with our reporter, Hon Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area, stated that:
“This is another milestone achievement of this administration because people have been expecting that this event should be staged. The government has put this together for the people to enjoy themselves with adequate security on ground”.
Some of the artistes that performed in Ikorodu on Sunday were Kessy Cool, Ms Kate, Tee Square, Two Slim and Dare Handsome, a Juju music act.
The introduction of Awoko cultural group, which rendered songs in local Ijebu dialect, took the electrifying crowd to another level as the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mrs Adebolu, Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and other dignitaries rose to their feet to dance.
A popular artiste, Konga, also thrilled the crowd with his energetic performance which thrown the crowd into wild excitement as he performed some of his popular old street jams while the famed female talking drummer, Ara, also added colour to the night.
MC Afo and African Presu Gee who co-anchored the event, also made the night remarkable for the guests and the audience with a classic act while Deejays Mickey 4 and Jaju did not disappoint on the turntable.
Alh Sule Adio Atawewe rounded off performance on the night on a great note with his impressive performance which made the Commissioners for Tourism and his Information and Strategy counterpart as well as the officials of their respective ministries to take to the dance floor once again and danced till the show was brought to a close in the early hours of the following morning.
