Kunle Adelabu
Prince Abiola Kosoko the Oloja of Lagos – elect in group photograph with foreign and local tourists during their visit to the King Kosoko Memorial Museum at the weekend
About 50 South African tourists at the weekend visited the King Kosoko Memorial Museum, Ereko, Lagos, to see the ancient palace and some of the relics of the late Lagos monarch that are being harboured for public viewing in the over 160 years old building.
The foreign tourists were accompanied to the King Kosoko Museum by chieftains of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP).
The tourists are businessmen who came into the country as part of the South African Tourism West African Road Show.
Welcoming them to the museum, Oloja of Lagos, Prince Abiola Kosoko, the Oloja of Lagos elect whose palace is also located within the museum, said that the palace was built 161 years ago and contains interesting artifacts of the former monarch.
“Be proud that you are part of those visiting this palace today. This palace was built with British money for peace and commercial activities of Lagos to regain stability and ever since 1862, Kosoko the first and his generation having been making sure that the commercial activities of Lagos flourish”, he said
While informing the visitors that the palace possesses many interesting artifacts which he would have shown them but for time, Prince Kosoko urged the tourists to pay another visit to the museum.
“King Kosoko palace is a place that you will need to come and visit again and you guys should be ready to also visit us virtually. Virtually, you will be able to visit us soon and you will be able to see over 1, 260 artifacts that we have. Those artifacts are so huge that you cannot but go through them”, Prince Kosoko said.
“Thank you for coming and I am happy to see you guys here. I am also happy that you went through all the hassles which you said are challenging. These are some things that we would be marketing soon because if you come to Lagos and you do not sweat, you have not come to Lagos.
He also hinted the visitors that the Kosoko family of Lagos will be re-enacting the return of King Kosoko back to Lagos tagged, ‘The Return’ between September and 16, 2022.
Mrs Udo, a chieftain of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), spoke on the activities of the tour operators in Nigeria which is to discover destinations and visit them.
She said that NATOP is in partnership with many international tour groups; one of which is the South African Tourism West African Road Show.
Udo added that they were visiting the palace/museum as part of the NATOP objectives which is to promote destinations and places and give foreign tourists the opportunity of experiencing them.
She assured that the group will definitely visit Kosoko Memorial Museum again.
Representative of the South Africa Tourism in Nigeria, Mr Muhammed Tanko, thanked Prince Kosoko for hosting and also sought the permission of the Oloja to tour the Ereko market with his people.
