The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to expand tourism development from the grassroots, as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture engaged tourism officers from all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across the state.

The engagement, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, brought together members of the Lagos State Local Government Tourism Officers (LALOTO) as part of a broader strategy to strengthen collaboration between state authorities and local councils in identifying, developing and promoting community-based tourism assets.

Speaking during the session, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, stressed that sustainable tourism growth in Lagos must be rooted at the local level. She charged tourism officers to take proactive responsibility for mapping, documenting and promoting heritage sites, cultural festivals and tourism potentials within their respective councils.

According to her, proper documentation, improved accessibility and stronger visibility are essential for transforming local attractions into marketable tourism products capable of attracting both domestic and international visitors.

Mrs Oyekan-Ismaila also disclosed that the Ministry is currently reviewing and compiling an updated Lagos State Tourism Calendar. She explained that the goal is to ensure that tourism, arts and cultural activities are evenly distributed throughout the year, with every month featuring structured events across different parts of the state.

She urged local tourism officers to promptly submit details of tourism sites, cultural assets and proposed events within their jurisdictions, noting that inclusive participation from councils would enhance planning and statewide promotion.

“Tourism has the power to empower communities when local stakeholders are fully involved from conception to execution,” she said, adding that engagement with LALOTO would remain continuous and collaborative.

Responding on behalf of LALOTO, the association’s President and Head of Tourism Unit, Epe Local Government Area, Dr Nurudeen Damilare Shoye, commended the Ministry for initiating the strategic dialogue. He reaffirmed the commitment of tourism officers at the local level to aligning with the state’s tourism vision.

Dr Shoye outlined a range of tourism and cultural programmes proposed for packaging and promotion in 2026. These include the Lagos Unity Cultural Carnival, Lagos Youth Music and Arts Festival, Lagos Food and Heritage Fair, Lagos Community Clean-Up and Green Day, Sports Festival, Lagos Women’s Empowerment Day, Lagos Education and Reading Festival, and the Lagos Inter-Local Government Trade Fair.

He also called for the revival of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) at the local level and proposed a stakeholders’ summit involving traditional rulers, council chairmen, council managers and tourism officers to deepen coordination.

In addition, he highlighted key international and local observances that could be leveraged for tourism promotion, such as World Theatre Day, World Heritage Day, World Cultural Diversity Day, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day, Lagos Yoruba Culture Week, World Tourism Day, Independence Day and activities under the Greater Lagos initiative.

During the interactive session, several tourism officers shared insights into lesser-known attractions within their councils. One of such examples was Kampala Market in Itire-Ikate, identified by the Head of the Council’s Tourism Unit, Mrs Disu Olajumoke, as a potential cultural and economic tourism hub if properly developed.

The discussions underscored the vast but largely untapped tourism opportunities across Lagos communities, including historic corridors such as Badagry, coastal settlements, markets, festivals and heritage landmarks.

The meeting ended with a joint commitment by the Ministry and LALOTO to sustained collaboration, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning Lagos as a vibrant, year-round destination for tourism, arts and culture within Nigeria and across Africa.