Think Lagos tourism is just beaches and parties? Think again. The state’s new plan is all about jobs, small businesses, and turning culture into cash.

Right, so here’s the gist from cbinews.tv: Lagos isn’t messing around with tourism anymore. The state government says its new, expanded tourism strategy is less about vibes and more about real money — creating jobs, backing SMEs, and giving the creative economy some serious muscle.

As Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, put it during a Ministerial Press Briefing, tourism isn’t just entertainment. It’s economic growth, enterprise development, and jobs for everyday Lagosians. The whole point? Make tourism a proper engine for the economy, not just a weekend thing.

What Aregbe told the press

According to cbinews.tv, Aregbe said Lagos is doubling down on its tourism and creative agenda with a bunch of targeted moves. The idea is to treat tourism like a structured economic driver that touches everything — hospitality, transport, retail, entertainment, you name it.

“The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to grow its tourism and creative economy sectors, unveiling a wide-ranging set of initiatives aimed at creating jobs, expanding small businesses and positioning the state as Africa’s leading cultural destination,” he said.

Basically, the government wants to turn Lagos’ cultural and tourism assets into steady income and employment. Not just seasonal Detty December money, but year-round opportunities.

The programmes doing the heavy lifting

cbinews.tv reports that Lagos has been weaving tourism and culture into its economic diversification playbook for a while now. Here’s what’s already on the ground:

- “When LAWMA Shines, Tourism Thrives” – Keeping key tourism spots like Victoria Island and Lekki clean so visitors actually want to stick around.

- “Skill Up Lagos” – Over 1,000 creatives trained in the last 24 months under the Lagos Cultural Mission.

- “101 Days in Lagos” – A proper calendar to turn the festive season into a coordinated tourism period, not just random events.

The goal? Better visitor experiences that also drive economic activity.

It’s not just the big programmes

Aregbe told cbinews.tv that Lagos is also leaning into culture, food, and grassroots partnerships to spread the benefits:

- “Cook Lagos. Eat Lagos.” – Bigging up local cuisine while supporting chefs, food vendors, and agribusiness.

- Festivals like Kayo-Kayo in Epe and Isese Day – Pulling crowds and boosting local trade and tourism.

- Cultural spots – Places like Nike Arts Gallery and the John Randle Centre are being plugged into organised tourism experiences.

Plus, public-private partnerships are helping with trade fairs, digital tourism platforms, and seasonal activities across the state.

One more thing you should know

Back in May 2025, cbinews.tv notes, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture teamed up with MyLagosApp to improve service delivery across tourism, hospitality, transport, and entertainment. Aregbe reckons the app could really help push Lagos’ tourism story and keep things coordinated, especially during the festive rush.

So yeah — Lagos is betting big on tourism as a job creator. Less talk about “potential”, more about paychecks.

#LagosTourism #CreativeEconomy #SMEsNigeria #VisitLagos #LagosJobs #IdrisAregbe #NigerianCulture #DettyDecember #CBINews