- ‘ Detty December ‘ gathered over 1.2 million attendees from Nigeria
- The Lagos State Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture to build on 2024 Detty December success
- Ghazi Shami says Detty December is a “global showcase of African excellence.”
The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has reaffirmed its dedication to bolstering the state’s status as Africa’s entertainment hub by capitalizing on the impressive success of ‘Detty December’ in 2024.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the annual event attracted over 1.2 million attendees from Nigeria and the diaspora, contributing significantly to the local economy.
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During a meeting with Ghazi Shami, the founder of Empire Distribution, Records, and Publishing Company USA, Commissioner Toke Benson-Awoyinka discussed the crucial role of the entertainment industry in the triumph of ‘Detty December’.
The commissioner commended Nigerian music icons like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, and Olamide for their involvement and influence.
In line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of promoting economic and cultural growth through tourism, plans are underway to make the 2025 ‘Detty December’ even more successful.
Benson-Awoyinka acknowledged the progress made in the film and creative sectors, emphasizing the need to extend similar support to the music industry.
To address existing gaps and elevate the music industry, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture intends to establish a music academy, organize talent hunts, and offer specialized training programmes.
“While Lagos has achieved a lot in the film and creative industry, we recognize that the music sector still requires significant attention.
Our goal is to nurture talents and create a pipeline of skilled professionals, including musicians, executives, lawyers, and engineers, ensuring Lagos continues to dominate the global music scene,” she stated.
Ghazi Shami, founder of Empire, praised Lagos for its achievements and described Detty December as a “global showcase of African excellence.”
However, he identified a critical need to develop the legal framework supporting the Nigerian music industry.
“One of the major challenges is the lack of specialised legal expertise in the Nigerian music industry. It is disheartening to see young artists sign contracts that could negatively affect their careers due to a lack of informed guidance.
This gap often results in international lawyers handling contracts that Nigerian practitioners should manage, which undermines local confidence and expertise”, Shami noted
He emphasised the importance of trained professionals with a solid understanding of record deals, royalty agreements, and intellectual property rights, calling for collaborative efforts to address the issues.
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Shami expressed his willingness to work with the Lagos State Government to close these gaps and empower Nigerian artists to secure better deals and protect their interests.
