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.