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.

 

Minister canvasses tourism devt in Nigeria

Written by Austin Jacobson  

The minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, said that the nation needs to develop domestic and international tourism to improve the economy.

According to him, the development of tourism can increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Products. He added that Nigeria is blessed with diverse tourism resources and many natural endowments with great potential for robust development, marketing and promotion.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Mohammed said each of the local governments has some unique products, which if well developed and marketed, could present several tourist attractions across the country.

The minister emphasized that the tourism sector could also help to generate local revenue and foreign exchange through visits by foreigners.

He said the major challenges in the tourism industry are lack of awareness and the development of our capacity to generate revenue through tourism.

The media and its practitioners have major roles to play in educating the citizens on the importance and benefits of domestic tourism.

Mohammed said, “We are in the process of implementing the tourism master plan, and we have set up a steering committee so that we can maximize our benefit in the tourism industry.”

The ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee on tourism drawn from the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism and officials of the ministry to discuss ways to improve the tourism sector.

He said tourism could enhance socio-economic activities and preserve the country’s natural and cultural landscapes.

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NTDC To Support Festival

NTDC PROMISES SUPPORT FOR OGORI OVIA OSESE FESTIVAL.

The annual Ovia Osese Cultural festival which holds in Ogori in Kogi state has been described as a revered festival which is one of the few festivals that preserve our culture and values.

The Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC ) Otunba Olusegun Runsewe who made the observation during the Courtesy visit by a delegation of Ogori Descendant Union ODU said the Ovia Osese festival stood out as one of the festivals that is highly regarded in the country.

The delegation led by the Vice Chairman of ODU Hon. Samuel Sadiku had asked for NTDC’s assistance in hosting the 2011 edition of the festival which holds in May.

Otunba Runsewe gave the assurance that the NTDC would support the event both materially and technically adding that a team from NTDC would be present at the festival.

“We assure you of our unconditional support for the festival,” he added. Otunba Runsewe also assured the delegation of NTDC support for the hosting of a website for the festival particularly for marketing and promotion both locally and abroad for the festival.

The Vice Chairman of ODU, Hon. Sadiku had solicited the assistance of NTDC to help the community internationalize the festival lamenting that in spite of the potentialities of the festival to the community and the nation, the community was incapable of taking the festival to the world alone.

“The hosting of the festival in spite of its great potentials has remained solely the responsibility of the community. This has often hampered its scope and organization”. Adding, “It is our plan to take the festival to the world and we believe you can help us in this regard”.

The Ogori Ovia Osese cultural festival has a history of close to a century; it is one festival that has annually attracted thousands to Ogori land including foreigners.

Lagos: Tourist Haven

Lagos: Gradually becoming tourists haven

Lagos is currently going through re-modernization to make it a Mega City by the current administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola. It is also gradually becoming a major tourist destination, being one of the largest cities in Africa and in the world. Lagos is currently taking steps to become a global city.

The Annual Eyo Festival and Lagos Carnival is a step towards world city status in terms of tourism. Currently, Lagos is primarily known as a business-oriented and a fast paced community. The state has a number of sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean and currently hotels have started springing up along the Ahmadu Bello way Way we have the popular Bar Beach.  Two of the popular beaches in Lagos include Bar Beach and Lekki Beach.

Presently the state can boost of a privately owned zoo which was commissioned in the Epe area of Lagos as it serves as a home for many animals that originate from Africa making Epe tourist destination in the state. Lagos has a variety of hotels ranging from three star to five star hotels.

 Some of the popular hotels include Welcome Centre Hotels, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Federal Palace Hotel, Stop Over Motels, Ikoyi Hotel, Sofitel Lagos Moorhouse Ikoyi, Eko Hotels and Suites, The AHI Residence and The Palm view Manor.

Visitors are mostly attracted to Nigeria's rich culture, entertainment scenes and vitality which Lagos city offers. Tourist attractions include Oba's Palace, the Nigerian National Museum, and Shrine of Fela, The Point of No return in Badagry, the beach resorts and Prophet T.B. Joshua's Synagogue, Church Of All Nations.

Point Of No Return: The most sought tourist destination in Nigeria. 

The Point of No Return in Badagry is one of the most sought after tourist’s destination not only in Nigeria but in the world.  On a visit to the Point of No Return, one could see the benefits of tourists who flock to the place to see were there great grandfather was exported to Europe and America for slavery.

  As historic of the slave trade has it, can be said that one of the most important aspect of the slave trade in Nigeria is the Point of No Return because it mark the beginning of the journey into the unknown for the captured slaves.

Badagry town in the western tip of Lagos were the Point of No Return is located has many things going for it. Aside from the fact that it remains serene and full of unspoiled nature, it also happens to be a very historic place with regards to Nigeria’s journey to independence. What’s more Badagry was also a major slave port while the Trans-Atlantic slave trade lasted for four decades. At some point it became the largest slave market on the West African coast, seeing to the buying and selling of 300 slaves a day.

The historic place (Point of No Return) due to modernization and preservation still have the reminiscent of its original selves and one could feel with deep touch the kind of physiological trauma those captured slaves went through during that period. The Point of No Return is not only the historic place that will touch the heart of any tourist on a visit to Badagry but also the various slave cells were they were kept after captivity before been sold to the white slave merchants.

That is why today Badagry were the Point of No Return is located has been one of the lucrative tourist destinations in Nigeria. As old as the slave trade is and as old as the abolition is tourists mostly from the Diasporas every year comes in thousands to see the point where there great grand fathers were loaded into the ships of the slave merchants to the world of the unknown.

Slave trade in Badagry the location of this dreaded place was the thriving business of the elite then in Badagry and that is why the activities of the white slave merchants were paramount in the area owning to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean in Badagry makes it possible for them to sail in and buy their human cargo.

In the early 1500's, slaves were transported from West Africa to America through The Point of No Return in Badagry. It is reported that Badagry exported no fewer than 550,000 African slaves to America during the period of the American Independence in l787 through this point.

These actually makes the Point of No Return one of the best sought after tourist destination for many Black Americans and other people in the diasporas wishing to know and see the very place that their great grand fathers were capture, tortured and exported to Europe and America as slaves.

The location of the Point of No Return in Badagry has actually brought some economic benefits to the inhabitants of the area because locals leaving in Badagry have benefited immensely from the inflow of tourist to the town, hospitality providers have also benefited from the inflow of tourist to the area. Badagry is a host to many cultural and Diaspora activities for tourists such as The Black Heritage Festival, Olokun Festival, Badagry Festival and Egungun Festival.

The Black Heritage Festival was actually started during the reign of the former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to further promote tourism in the state and also bring the natives in Diaspora back home.

The two editions of the festival took place before he handed over to the present governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola. The festivals attracted African-Americans in large numbers.

The festival was also meant to attract investment to the town from blacks in the Diaspora. And this is in a way paying off as one of pop superstar Michael Jackson’s brothers, Marlon, is involved in a plan to develop a $3.4bn (£2.4bn) slavery memorial and luxury resort in Badagry.

Point Of No Return: The most sought tourist destination in Nigeria.

The Point of No Return in Badagry is one of the most sought after tourist’s destination not only in Nigeria but in the world. On a visit to the Point of No Return, one could see the benefits of tourists who flock to the place to see were there great grandfather was exported to Europe and America for slavery.
As historic of the slave trade has it, can be said that one of the most important aspect of the slave trade in Nigeria is the Point of No Return because it mark the beginning of the journey into the unknown for the captured slaves.
Badagry town in the western tip of Lagos were the Point of No Return is located has many things going for it. Aside from the fact that it remains serene and full of unspoiled nature, it also happens to be a very historic place with regards to Nigeria’s journey to independence. What’s more Badagry was also a major slave port while the Trans-Atlantic slave trade lasted for four decades. At some point it became the largest slave market on the West African coast, seeing to the buying and selling of 300 slaves a day.
The historic place (Point of No Return) due to modernization and preservation still have the reminiscent of its original selves and one could feel with deep touch the kind of physiological trauma those captured slaves went through during that period. The Point of No Return is not only the historic place that will touch the heart of any tourist on a visit to Badagry but also the various slave cells were they were kept after captivity before been sold to the white slave merchants.
That is why today Badagry were the Point of No Return is located has been one of the lucrative tourist destinations in Nigeria. As old as the slave trade is and as old as the abolition is tourists mostly from the Diasporas every year comes in thousands to see the point where there great grand fathers were loaded into the ships of the slave merchants to the world of the unknown.
Slave trade in Badagry the location of this dreaded place was the thriving business of the elite then in Badagry and that is why the activities of the white slave merchants were paramount in the area owning to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean in Badagry makes it possible for them to sail in and buy their human cargo.
In the early 1500's, slaves were transported from West Africa to America through The Point of No Return in Badagry. It is reported that Badagry exported no fewer than 550,000 African slaves to America during the period of the American Independence in l787 through this point.
These actually makes the Point of No Return one of the best sought after tourist destination for many Black Americans and other people in the diasporas wishing to know and see the very place that their great grand fathers were capture, tortured and exported to Europe and America as slaves.
The location of the Point of No Return in Badagry has actually brought some economic benefits to the inhabitants of the area because locals leaving in Badagry have benefited immensely from the inflow of tourist to the town, hospitality providers have also benefited from the inflow of tourist to the area. Badagry is a host to many cultural and Diaspora activities for tourists such as The Black Heritage Festival, Olokun Festival, Badagry Festival and Egungun Festival.
The Black Heritage Festival was actually started during the reign of the former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to further promote tourism in the state and also bring the natives in Diaspora back home.
The two editions of the festival took place before he handed over to the present governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola. The festivals attracted African-Americans in large numbers.
The festival was also meant to attract investment to the town from blacks in the Diaspora. And this is in a way paying off as one of pop superstar Michael Jackson’s brothers, Marlon, is involved in a plan to develop a $3.4bn (£2.4bn) slavery memorial and luxury resort in Badagry.