Whispering Palms Resort, Bagary

Whispering Palms, where nature has endowed

Very close to the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic is a reservoir of nature and a place to escape to for the best in pleasure and holidaying, filled with many wonders of nature and this place is called the Whispering Palms.

Located in Iworo, Badagry, apart from the bad road linkage that leads to the resort, Whispering Palms is but a complete environment blessed with nature coupled with the beach that lined the side of the resort which makes it a complete place to go to when anybody wants to escape from the hassle and bustle of the Lagos environment.

Starting from the entrance visitors to the resort are warmingly greeted and the first thing you see is the beautiful lush green lawn with Peacocks and the Donkeys walking and grazing on the grasses and walking towards the reception is the mini zoo with beautiful monkeys while on the other side is the baboons jumping and hooping at visitors passing by.

Approaching the reception you will see beautiful parrot birds singing and telling you welcome and the ambience of the reception hall amplifies the African heritage with the portraits of Nelson Mandela and prof. Wole Soyinka well displayed and other African artefacts used in beautifying the hall.

Conducting waka-about round Whispering Palms, the Marketing and Elevation Manager of the resort Mr. Adeleke Adewale said that the resort started operations in 1991 and they have been able to give the best of hospitality to people that have been privileged to come to the resort.

According to him their major clients are the various corporate organizations and companies which most often organised retreats, conferences and seminars for their staffs.  At other times which are mostly during the holiday seasons the resort usually have a high turnout of visitors who throne the resorts for relaxation.

Adeleke said residents and other people from far do come to celebrate birthdays and other occasions adding that even most weekends people do come for picnics with their families to enjoy the cool breeze from the beach.

Speaking further he said the resort does receive foreign tourists in numbers but that there major customers are the corporate organization and multi-nationals.  He said business was low at the start of the year but it started coming up at the month of June.

Whispering Palms is a conference resort centre occupying an 8-acre track of land in a rural area of Lagos State, Badagry Local Government Area. It lies on the lagoon and typifies the beauty of the area- cool Atlantic breeze, silica sands, palm trees and chirping birds.

The road within the resort looks fascinating as it is lined with palm kernel residue. The entire environment is quiet with stunning ambience and a contrast to the maddening crowd and noise of Lagos.

On offer also is a choice of cuisine from Nigerian to Continental- with exotic dishes like coconut shrimps, Spanish paella, Cantonese Chicken, Ogbono spiced with Ugu and bitter leaf.

At Whispering Palms, there are many useful recreational facilities and relaxation spots, which includes mini museum containing historical items like slave chains and images of important locations like the site where Christianity was first preached in Nigeria.

Also available in the resort are Exercise Area and Aerobics ground, Mini Zoo, Lawn Tennis Court, Basketball Court, Volleyball Court, Swimming Pool, Mini Suites, Double Rooms, Atlantic Suites (Each suite comprises of 3 double rooms), Swimming Pool Block Room, Conference Rooms (Conference Room 1, Conference Room 2, Laguna Auditorium), Pedal Boats and Bars (Patisserie, Red Roof, Dining pavilion)

Lagos; The city of beaches

Lagos: The city of beaches

The City of Lagos is one of the busiest in Africa and can also serves as one of the economic cities of the modern African economy. The number of visitors that thrown Lagos on a daily basis for economy tourism  is very high and this can be attributed to the increase in the numbers of hotels springing up in the city every day.

This also is one of the reasons why tourism in Lagos is moving on a high level and one of the places tourist makes a point of call any time in Lagos is the beaches in Lagos.

The city of Lagos has over ten beaches with their warm waters, tall palm trees and white sands and most importantly, the beaches are quite unspoiled and natural in their own unique way. The people living in the city are very friendly and the destination is not too expensive despite being at a prime location on the coastal line of the South Atlantic Ocean.

There are daily flights to Lagos, direct from Europe and America and most airlines offer considerable cheap fares to Lagos if compared with other destination on the same continent. The major flight from Europe to Nigeria is from United Kingdom by British Airways, there has been a new addition of Airik Airways and Air Nigeria.  The fares of British Airways however, have dropped to compete with all other airlines including Airik and Afriqiyah Airways.

Among the most visited destinations in Lagos are its beaches and the beaches, in Lagos are spectacular, with white sands, palm trees and the rough unforgiving waves of the Bight of Benin. Out of the few, the beaches known to attract a great number of both local and international tourists are the Bar Beach and the Eleko Beach.

Walking along the Bar Beach in the evening, apart from the natural cool breeze and the oozing of the wave of the Atlantic Ocean is the different array of entertainment and relaxation cool spot that makes the tourist and even the locals more relaxed and more comfortable because the cool spot comes with various entertainments.

This is the main beach on Victoria Island, alongside Ahmadu Bello Way and one of the more popular beaches in the state. Bar Beach remains the most populous beach in Lagos and runs from the Institute of Oceanography down to the extreme of Eko Hotel.

Located in the heart of the city, it also harbours its fair share of squatters, druggies, prostitutes with their customers coming at night to patronize them and different religious prayer groups and waka-about learnt that the Bar Beach was named after the sand bars that characterised the coastline of Lagos.

Along the Ahmadu Bello Way were the Bar Beach is situated is now  lined up with three and four stars hotels making it more attractive to tourists who wish to be more closer to nature, beautiful white sands and cool breeze.

Now, this location is turned into a yet more organized beach called Kuramo Beach, named after the small lake which lies behind it. Also are some array of cafe and bars along the shore, a uniform range of beach huts are rented and sold to operators of bars and restaurants.

The Eleko Beach is a much older tourist stop yet not so commercialized stretch of sand. It offers a nice, fun beach atmosphere with a clean and well-catered for surroundings. Located just a few kilometres from the city centre along the Lekki-Epe Expressway this beach also helps as a getaway for groups and family.

At the Eleko-Lekki beach, it is possible to hire a beach shelter made of palm fronds and set up a picnic or barbecue. The Palm trees along the shore, the white sand, the calm and cool atmosphere makes it an ideal surrounding for a beach holiday.

Despite being one of Lagos' favourite beaches, The Eleko Lekki Beach remains relatively quiet most weekdays and weekends. However, the beach is turned into a holiday paradise and besieged on public holidays, when Lagos residents get together to enjoy the gif of nature.

Beaches that can also be found in Lagos and makes a wonderful relaxation spot  include Alpha Beach, Akodo Beach and Tarkwa Bay, Ogogoro Island, Atlas Cove, Lighthouse beach, Ilashe Beach, Agaja Beach and Badagry Beach.

Lace Fabric as a Nigeria culture

The rich cultural heritage of Nigeria cannot be said to be complete without the strong sentiments Nigerians attach to fabrics and clothing’s and this can be evident in the style and way of dressing mostly during occasion and festivals. Last week, an exhibition on the   African Lace: A History of Trade, Creativity and Fashion was held at the National Museums and Monument Onikan in Lagos and Austin Jacobson was there to witness the various arrays of lace fabrics and attires that have come to be a main stay of the Nigerian culture, Except

FG is seeking more collaboration with local and foreign organizations in propagating Nigeria cultural heritage

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Alhaji Ibrahim Mahe, has said that the federal government is looking forward to more collaboration with both local and international organizations to ensure the propagation of Nigerian rich cultural heritage.

He made this statement while delivering his key note address during the opening of the exhibition titled African Lace: A History of Trade, Creativity and Fashion and a collaborative effort between the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Museum of Ethnology Vienna, Austria and The British Museum in London.

According to him, for many years now, lace has become fabric of choice by most Nigerians, especially people of Southern Nigeria, who regard lace as conveying supreme elegance.

He said the trend has continued to define the appearance of Nigerians worldwide and become an intrinsic element of our festive clothing and fashion. In fact many people around the world have had the opportunity of seeing and admiring the brightly colored or snow-white lace dresses worn by Nigerians to commemorate one occasion or the other.

Speaking further, he said the exhibition, apart from been intended to showcase African Lace in Nigeria in a variety of perspectives also complies with one of the key areas of museum work which include preserving cultural heritage, communicating knowledge, and demonstrating the important role of museums as centre of research on material culture of man.

Mahe stated that it would suffice to ask at this juncture   what  is the special quality of Lace fabrics that makes them so attractive to Nigerians. He said there are two major reasons that can be attributable to the popularity of lace, the fabric’s lightness, airiness and the perceived prestige value which signal the high status of the wearer.

Nigerians he said obviously have a preference for opulent and striking clothing and the lace fabric provides them with the right fabric to achieving this. It should be noted that lace was not originally part of the traditional clothing of Nigerians and was never part of the fashion or culture of any ethnic group, although certain textiles display features reminiscent of industrial embroidery textiles.

The Permanent Secretary explained that lace made its first incursion into the Nigerian society during European trade in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Its elements were seen on their dresses and those of their children, especially girls.

They used lace materials on dining tables, window blinds and other forms of decoration at home and in the office and to decorate the undergarments of ladies, young girls and flamboyant women’s dresses.

Speaking further, he said children of the rich who traveled abroad for further education in Europe who came in contact with dresses made of lace found them fashionable for use at home and as gifts for parents, relations, suitors and other loved ones.

The use of lace thus become popular half a century later among the middle and upper classes, most especially among the people of southern Nigeria. He disclosed that  in 1976 the federal government of Nigeria placed a ban on its importation due to its ‘reckless use’ and the outrageous designs that exposed and revealed much of the body especially a variant of  the fabric called “won-yo-si” seen as the ultimate in sexy dressing. The holes on this particular fabric were so large that much of the body is revealed especially for the females.

The permanent secretary stated that the phenomenon of Aso-ebi, which literally translates as uniform of relative or a common cloth for relatives and friends, helped in the widespread use of lace. At social gatherings, lace is worn to celebrate special occasion. The result of this uniform clothing gives a spectacular sight when you see a group of women sitting together or dancing through the streets in identical wrappers and head ties.

The popularity of lace was so great that it adapted to suit traditional dress styles or to embellish other traditional forms of dress. In the south-west in fact, the traditional clothing of both men and women was increasingly fashioned out of lace materials. The men’s Agbada (gown), buba (blouse) and sokoto (trousers) originally made from other fabrics, were now made wholly in lace.

 So too the women’s IRO (wrapper), buba (blouse), Iborun (shawl) and gele (head tie) were all made from lace materials. While the trade in lace has decreased since it’s peak in the late 1970’s and 80’s, it is still being used in large quantities but imported less from Europe, Austria and Switzerland, and more from India and China. Nonetheless, lace will continue to play a central role in Nigerian’s fashion scene. This is because it is seen more or less as traditional in the fashion and popular culture of Nigeria.

Also speaking at the occasion the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments Mr. Yusuf Abdullah Usman said that this exhibition gives an overview of the development of clothing traditions in Nigeria and a style chronology of lace fashion.

He said since 1970, the lace fabric offers insight into the society life and vibrant fashion scene of Nigeria especially the south –west. It highlights creativity, opulence, and the joy of social gatherings and group celebration in Nigeria.

The exhibition attracted a lot of visitors in Austria and we hope the Nigeria version which is taking place now you will invoke a feeling nostalgia among our traders who had the opportunities of trade deals with Austrian producers and the elegant Nigerian women who patronized these lace merchants in Nigeria.

Usman opined that it is hope the exhibition will be a catalyst to further research into the history and cultural significance of the lace fabric in Nigeria. Let me also inform you that for the first time a book titled, African Lace: A history of Trade, Creativity and Fashion in Nigeria, a catalogue from the Lace exhibition is available for sale at this venue.

The Director General applauds the continued contributions of the Ford Foundation to the development of museums in Nigeria. According to him, they facilitated the training of some of the staff of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, through the British Museum, to enhance their professional knowledge.

Adire, the cultural identity of the Egba's

Right in the heart of Abeokuta is the Kemta Adire Market which is very popular in Nigeria and around the World. The market is known for its famous product Adire which has been in existence for over a hundred years. The market has the historical background of been an hereditary market which is passed on to generation from generation. The distinct nature of the Adire Market is the fact that virtually all the traders in the market are descendants of the their families who have live and passed to the grave beyond bequeathing the potion of the market that is theirs to their descendants and Austin Jacobson in this trip to the market chronicle the history of Adire, the market and how it became the identity of the Ogun people and its cultural heritage. Excerpts ----

Adire the cultural identity of the Egba’s

Nigeria is a country that consist of different tribes and culture and even before we got our independent from Great Britain, the cultural aspect of Nigeria has been carefully crafted even to the extent of been a means of identifying which tribe a Nigerian comes from.

Each and every state in Nigeria has its own culture and a form or means of identification and immediately this unique point is sighted it is very easy to know which culture or tribe a Nigeria belongs to.

Starting from the North to the South, from the West to the East all these parts of Nigeria has their cultural attires and form of dressing which makes the cultural aspect of the Nigeria Nation a unique one.

As a distinctive textile type, Adire first emerged in the city of Abeokuta, a centre for cotton production, weaving, and indigo-dyeing in the nineteenth century. The prototype was tie-dyed kijipa, a hand woven cloth dyed with indigo for use as wrappers and covering cloths. Female specialists dyed yarns and cloth and also refurbished faded clothing by re-dyeing the cloth with tie-dyed patterns.

The Egba’s are a tribe from Abeokuta, the southern part of Nigeria and they are part of the Yoruba’s but despite that they still have their own cultural inheritance which they inherited from their fore fathers and this aspect of that culture that has stand them out and also use to identify with the Egba’s and people of Ogun state in general is the creation of Adire Clothing.

According to the Iyaloja of Kemta Alhaja Somodale  Akamo, Kemta is the main Adire market which is located in Abeokuta, the nerve centre of the state,  not only is Adire the sole cultural identity of the Ogun people, it is has also made state popular both local and internationally and the market is passed on from generation to generation.

She also said the former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and former governor of the state Chief Olusegun Osoba has been of tremendous help to Abeokuta be always putting on the Adire attire in different colours making them good ambassador of the people of Ogun State

Entering into Abeokuta from the Sango axis of the state you will in a short distance get to the Kemta Adire Market which is reputed to be one of the oldest markets in the world. The market is adorned with different beautiful Adire attire that is so good to put on. Speaking with National Daily, the Iyaloja of Kemta Alhaja Somodale Akamo who is over seventy years old said that she grew up to know the Kemta Adire Market.

She said this work of Adire is an hereditary profession, it is what we inherited, we can not say how it started. Adire is a resist-dyed cloth produced and worn by the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria in West Africa.

We the Yoruba label Adire, which means “tied and dyed,” was first applied to indigo-dyed cloth decorated with, resist patterns around the turn of the twentieth century. With the introduction of a broader color palette of imported synthetic dyes in the second half of the twentieth century, the label “Adire” was expanded to include a variety of hand-dyed textiles using wax resist batik methods to produce patterned cloth in a dazzling array of dye tints and hues.

Alhaja Akamo emphasied that Adire is like the beautiful Peacock bird which when it spreads its wings you see different beautiful colours which makes it the most beautiful bird in the word that’s how best to describe Adire. During those early days we usually make Adire for special occasion most especially for a girl that is getting married and the girl must have been a very obedient girl which is well known by the whole family. The family will have been preparing the Adire for up to three years and any girl that goes to her husbands house with the Adire then is well respected and seen as a girl well brought up girl by her parents because it is a thing of honour to get married with Adire and that tells the importance of Adire in the culture of the Yoruba’s.

Speaking further she said apart from going to your husband’s house if we want to tie and soak for sale it would take two weeks and even Kampala is also Adire. But the one we tie and soak for one month or two is the Alaro dudu but for Kampala you can tie and soak today and use tomorrow. The Adire market is a family market she said and it also hereditary, the Senegalese and other traders from the west coast come here to buy and also from all over the world.

Also speaking to National Daily on Adire is the president of the Adire Carnival Festival Chief Micheal Ogunfidodo who said that  since the beginning of the year business has not been rosy due to the poor situation of the economy and also the raw materials used in the production of the Adire are had to come by.

Basically he stated that in  Kemta “we no nothing else apart from the Adire and in other to celebrate our culture and do other things we decided to introduce the Adire Carnival and also a cultural fashion festival through which we intend to sell this clothing  to the rest of the world.

The carnival is to give thanks to God and we invite people to come and celebrate with us and we usually celebrate it during the festive season.

 Jonathan spends working holiday at Obudu

Nigeria is endowed with massive tourism potentials, both natural and man-made. Each state of the federation has its own tourism potentials that could be developed to improve the tourism industry, turning it into revenue generating venture for the local communities and the nation as a whole.

However, out of these hundreds of tourism endowments, there are places that can be likened to paradise were nature abounds. The Obudu Mountain Resort (Formerly Obudu Cattle Ranch) is one of the tourist sites in Cross River State which offers the leisure seeker and the conference goer a complete contrast. Not only in its temperate climate but also it’s exciting and different location.

Nestling at the top of the mountain, the Obudu Mountain Resort is situated on a plateau at 1576 metres above sea level on the Oshie Ridge of the Sankwala Mountains. The temperate climate offers a total contrast and welcome respite from Africa’s tropical heat. Idyllic tranquillity, beautiful scenery and breathtaking views make it ideal for the lone adventurer, families on reunion, young couple or holiday group.

For this reason and after a long period of political campaign that spans through out the nation and a exhausted election calendar, the President of Nigeria Good Luck Ebele Jonathan, instead of going abroad which is the norm among Nigerian leaders, decided to spend the holiday at the Obudu Mountain Resort not only to relax and take time out but also to strategies for the task ahead of him most especially as he is about to start another four year term.

It was therefore not a surprise that the President decided to go to Obudu Mountain Resort with the retinue of his aids, senior government officials and ministers for a one week holiday retreat because the resort is well equipped with all the equipment and facilities that will make the stay of a special guest like the president a pleasant one.

The Presidential Villa which is the highest point on the ranch is built at a view point for the President to see as far as he could up to Cameroon. The villa has eight chalets for presidential aides being constructed with 100 percent seasoned wood from Finland. The Presidential Villa has a helipad.

 The resort also provides accommodation in the form of African round huts and chalets on stilts maximising the breathtaking views. Obudu Mountain Resort offers self-contained suites varying in size from the 2-bedroom Governor’s Lodge with its own lounge and dining room and kitchenette to the 20 Mountain Villas, each with three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchenette and balcony.

 The place have been carefully put in place to meet up with international standard, and  the food and beverage offering is found in the Terrace Restaurant and Bar with a cosy and relaxing atmosphere made complete by the blazing log fire. National and international cuisine is guaranteed to suit all tastes and the healthy appetites from a day’s nature walk or round of golf.

The former Obudu Cattle Ranch offers a fully-equipped gym, two floodlit tennis courts, a squash court and a natural swimming pool. Keen golfers can show their prowess on the hotel’s 9-hole golf course the major talking point of guests is Africa’s longest cable car system.

 At 4 kilometres, Obudu Mountain Resort cable car gently transfers guests (and their bags) from the tropical climate at the base of the mountain right to the hotel’s reception area on the mountainside which is often in the clouds and is accompanied by an invigorating drop in temperature. Admirers of eco-tourism and adventure, bored by comfort of the hotel accommodations could easily get busy with a ride down the hill on the cable car and indulge in some water sports.

The tourist will have the opportunity to view the magnificent scenery and spectacular birdlife which are a must for the visitors who come to this part of the world and these tourists can be taken on foot or on bicycle. For those who forgot to pack binoculars, the Canopy Walkway which is situated in the trees allows visitors thrilling close-ups of the birds in their natural habitat high above the ground.

The Resort in the past had hosted prominent event such as 'Gulder Ultimate Search', also plays host to the world's most enduring and famous 'Mountain Race' (Obudu Mountain Race) that has brought prominent runners from around the world to Nigeria.

It is quite possible that in the near future, arrivals may double with plans being worked out by the African Sun Hotels, not only for local, but also for the increasing tourists from abroad to enjoy the fascinating aura, serenity and tranquillity of the surrounding beautiful hills that seem more ideal for the strong and fit alone.

One of the greatest assets of the resort is its sustainable tourism practice that gives priority to the interest of its host communities. For instance, the local communities that are largely farmers and cattle rearers supply some of the ingredients used at the resort. This guarantees steady income for those that are not fully employed by the resort.

 Jonathan spends working holiday at Obudu

Nigeria is endowed with massive tourism potentials, both natural and man-made. Each state of the federation has its own tourism potentials that could be developed to improve the tourism industry, turning it into revenue generating venture for the local communities and the nation as a whole.

However, out of these hundreds of tourism endowments, there are places that can be likened to paradise were nature abounds. The Obudu Mountain Resort (Formerly Obudu Cattle Ranch) is one of the tourist sites in Cross River State which offers the leisure seeker and the conference goer a complete contrast. Not only in its temperate climate but also it’s exciting and different location.

Nestling at the top of the mountain, the Obudu Mountain Resort is situated on a plateau at 1576 metres above sea level on the Oshie Ridge of the Sankwala Mountains. The temperate climate offers a total contrast and welcome respite from Africa’s tropical heat. Idyllic tranquillity, beautiful scenery and breathtaking views make it ideal for the lone adventurer, families on reunion, young couple or holiday group.

For this reason and after a long period of political campaign that spans through out the nation and a exhausted election calendar, the President of Nigeria Good Luck Ebele Jonathan, instead of going abroad which is the norm among Nigerian leaders, decided to spend the holiday at the Obudu Mountain Resort not only to relax and take time out but also to strategies for the task ahead of him most especially as he is about to start another four year term.

It was therefore not a surprise that the President decided to go to Obudu Mountain Resort with the retinue of his aids, senior government officials and ministers for a one week holiday retreat because the resort is well equipped with all the equipment and facilities that will make the stay of a special guest like the president a pleasant one.

The Presidential Villa which is the highest point on the ranch is built at a view point for the President to see as far as he could up to Cameroon. The villa has eight chalets for presidential aides being constructed with 100 percent seasoned wood from Finland. The Presidential Villa has a helipad.

 The resort also provides accommodation in the form of African round huts and chalets on stilts maximising the breathtaking views. Obudu Mountain Resort offers self-contained suites varying in size from the 2-bedroom Governor’s Lodge with its own lounge and dining room and kitchenette to the 20 Mountain Villas, each with three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchenette and balcony.

 The place have been carefully put in place to meet up with international standard, and  the food and beverage offering is found in the Terrace Restaurant and Bar with a cosy and relaxing atmosphere made complete by the blazing log fire. National and international cuisine is guaranteed to suit all tastes and the healthy appetites from a day’s nature walk or round of golf.

Lagos Carnival 2011

Lagos Carnival 2011: Lagosians celebrate in style

The impact and momentum tourism is gaining in the city of Lagos can be liken to the way the Brazilians crave for their yearly Globe Brazilian Carnival which is one of the most populous carnivals in the world. The preparation and amount of money invested into the staging of The Lagos Carnival by the state government sends the signal that the state is ready to compete favorably with the already established carnivals in the country such as the yearly Carnival Calabar and Abuja Carnival.

The Lagos carnival which is the second in the series in the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is one of the various cultural festivities in the state which the government hopes to use in selling the tourism and cultural potentials of the state to the outside world.

Realizing the fact that tourism is fast becoming the highest revenue earner of many countries and also the highest employer of labour around the world, Lagos State government intends to use the yearly Lagos Carnival to create employment for Lagosians and also use it as a tool to draw potential foreign tourists to the state there by increasing its revenue generation base.

It was therefore a scene of creativity, glamour and passion last week Saturday when Lagosians in their thousands took the centre stage as the Lagos Carnival 2011 which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square.  A mamount crowd of excited Lagosians and foreign tourists including Governor Babatunde Fashola, his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola and Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan witnessed the beautiful display and scintillating performances by various colorfully attired Fancy groups representing different areas and localities in the state as the 2011 Lagos Carnival comes to and end which was started a week ago.

The festivity which was christened Heritage Week 2011 also featured Boat Regatta, Beauty Contest and many other cultural activities which was not only to celebrate the Easter season but also the victory of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at the just concluded governorship and state house of assembly elections.    

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Babatunde Fashola use the opportunity once again to thank Lagosians for voting for the Action Congress of Nigeria at the just concluded governorship and state assembly elections given them the mandate to steer the ship of the state for another four years.

He again gave his commitment not to let the people of Lagos down adding that it was part of the benefits of the mandate given to him by the people that brought about the celebration of the heritage week which is meant to celebrate Easter and promote opportunities in the State

The Governor added that all the costumes adorned by the participants at the carnival were made in Lagos and a proof of the people oriented programmes of the present administration to give jobs to Lagosians.

He said with the successful organization of the festival, Lagos State has taken leadership position in many ways with the image of the state growing in leaps and bounds. The Governor emphasized that the administration will use the carnival to expand the economic sector towards providing more jobs for the people.

The various contingents that participated had earlier gone in a procession through different routes like Falomo, Obalende, National Museum, and Onikan to the Tafawa Balewa Square in a road show which was characterized by beautiful leg works and display.

All the six educational districts in Lagos were represented at the parade which also featured areas like, Ikeja, Ketu, Agege, Ifako- Ijaiye, Ikorodu Ogba, Isolo, Surulere, Odi- Olowo, Mushin, Ilasamaja, Oworonshoki Awoyaya, Addo Langbasa, Epe and Badagry which all joined the traditional Fanti groups of Campos Lafiaji, Epetedo and Oko Faji in the beautiful display.