- Lagos Partners with France to Strengthen Cultural Heritage, Arts and Technology
- Representatives from France included the Consul General of France in Lagos, Mr. Laurent Favier
- Discussions centred on two major French-supported initiatives scheduled for October
Lagos State is strengthening its position as a global cultural hub through new international partnerships, following high-level talks between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and officials of the French Embassy and Consulate in Ikoyi.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the meeting which took place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, was led by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka.
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She was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Idowu Johnson; Head of Legal, Eunice Ibitola; and Deputy Director of Monuments, Folashade Jide-Oyesola.
Representatives from France included the Consul General of France in Lagos, Mr. Laurent Favier; Head of Cooperation at the French Embassy, Mr. Thierry Valentin; Audio-visual Attaché, Mr. Christophe Pecot; and Cultural Attaché, Ms. Emmanuelle Harang.
Discussions centred on two major French-supported initiatives scheduled for October: a Fela Exhibition and a Cultural Conference expected to draw between 800 and 1,200 participants.
According to Benson-Awoyinka, these events will showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage on the global stage while providing fresh opportunities for creative exchange.
She explained that the talks also explored investment opportunities in Lagos’ dynamic creative economy, which spans film, fashion, music, animation, and documentary production.
“Lagos is Africa’s creative heartbeat, and partnerships like this ensure our heritage is preserved while our creative industries continue to flourish,” the Commissioner said.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to cultural preservation under the Lagos State Preservation Law of 2011, which protects monuments and other cultural assets.
She further announced plans to deepen engagement with European Union cultural bodies to support policy development, capacity-building, and heritage conservation.
Benson-Awoyinka disclosed that a follow-up meeting with French cultural agencies will be convened to formalise collaboration and align with the Ministry’s priorities.
Highlighting Lagos’ ongoing investment in culture, she revealed that in the past year alone, the state funded more than 140 cultural festivals and events with ₦8.4 billion, further cementing its status as Africa’s cultural capital.
