During the December 2024 “Detty December” festivities in Lagos, the state recorded an economic boost of over $71.6 million across the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment sectors.
Notable events such as the Greater Lagos Fiesta, Mrs. Universe Africa, Rhythm Unplugged, African Fashion Week, and the Spotify Wrapped Concert contributed to the festive buzz, attracting attendees from within and outside Nigeria.
This surge in cultural activity reflects the growing importance of creative industries in Lagos’s economy. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has repeatedly emphasised culture and tourism as central to his administration’s vision of transforming Lagos into a leading destination for investment, leisure, and innovation.
In line with this vision, author and Ake Arts and Book Festival convener, Lola Shoneyin, recently announced plans to develop a centralised platform to help residents and tourists navigate Lagos’s growing calendar of cultural events.
In a tweet posted earlier this month, Ms. Shoneyin said the initiative was at the request of Governor Sanwo-Olu, who asked her to create an accessible digital platform where people can easily find essential information about the city’s numerous festivals and events during the ember months.
“Lagos is ripe for a platform that aggregates all the cultural events,” Ms. Shoneyin said in an interview with Ikeja Record. “You cannot succeed as a city that wants to attract tourists without formal digital platforms where people can find all the information they need in one place.”
What the platform will offer
Once launched, the platform will host event listings with key details such as dates, locations, and directions. It will also include practical information for tourists, such as the safest accommodations and transport tips.
“Sometimes in Lagos, transportation is the one thing people are uncertain about. We want to find solutions for that too,” Ms. Shoneyin said.
The award-winning author explained that organisers will be invited to submit their events via a standard form;inclusion will be based on minimum requirements like a working website or registration link, not the size of the event.
To support smaller festivals, the platform may also offer tools like payment processing and ticketing, particularly for events that cannot afford to build such systems independently.
Supporting grassroots festivals
While major events are expected to feature prominently, Ms. Shoneyin emphasised that the platform is designed to be inclusive of smaller, lesser-known festivals.
“It’s not about the size of your festival,” she said. “It’s about your capacity and what you’ve built.”
There are also plans to feature the stories of founders and directors behind these events, many of whom operate with little recognition despite contributing significantly to Lagos’s cultural landscape.
In addition, Ms. Shoneyin said there will be room for innovation. New festivals curated by younger creatives will be supported through mentorship from more established festival directors.
Launch timeline
While the official name and branding of the platform are still under wraps, Ms. Shoneyin said the goal is to launch it in early August, just in time for the busy cultural season that stretches from September to December.
“It’s all about making Lagos a destination, not just for business and commerce, but for culture as well,” she said.