Lagos State Government partners creative academies in boosting film production

By Eunice Olile

The Lagos State Government says it is currently in partnership with four different creative academies to enhance the capacities of young creative practitioners.

This was made known by the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, at the 2024 Ministerial press briefing in commemoration of the first year, second term anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration at Alausa, Ikeja.

Mrs Benson-Awoyinka, while reeling out scorecards of the ministry in the last one year, said over three thousand, seven hundred and forty-eight youths have benefited from the training.

According to Mrs Benson-Awoyinka, the aim is to bridge and identify skills in creative sector and also position youngsters to be able to compete with other contemporaries in film production.

” The testimonials of the beneficiaries are very encouraging. It should be stressed that this training capacity building which ordinarily would have cost them beneficiaries several millions of naira is at no cost to the participants, courtesy of the State Government. I am pleased to announce that Mr Governor has further approved training of over five thousand young men and women to run for the next three years “.

While speaking on engagement so far, Mrs Benson-Awoyinka, said the ministry of tourism will be engaging key players in hotels, lounges, restaurants, bars, beaches, resorts, event centres and nightclubs for tourism development to brainstorm on ways to sustain the entire hospitality value chain.

While reiterating Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment in creating a conducive environment for tourists, Mrs Benson-Awoyinka assured of proactive measures that would be taken by both federal and state government in mitigating and identifying bottlenecks in the sector.

” We have maintained an improved symbiotic relationship with stakeholders, developed policies that would guide tourism activities in the state and also implemented different programs and projects for the benefits of Lagos residents as a whole, as it relates to the fulfilment of the fifth pillars of the THEMES Plus agenda”.

The commissioner who emphasized the need for concerted efforts towards sustainable growth and prosperity of the sector, said it is saddled with mandate of initiating, formulating, executing and evaluating policies relating to tourism.

Highlight of the event was a group photograph by members of the ministry, representatives of Film and Censors Board and other stakeholders.